Several beaches in San Diego County have been closed due to high bacteria levels, health officials have announced. The closures, which took effect on Saturday, affect four beaches along the US-Mexico border, including Imperial Beach, which was recently named the dirtiest beach in the country.
The closures are attributed to sewage flowing from Tijuana, Mexico, where broken infrastructure allows raw human waste to enter the water. The pollution affects Imperial Beach, Silver Strand State Beach, Coronado Beach, and the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge.
Local officials have expressed frustration, with former Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina stating that the problem persists '365 days a year, seven days a week, 24 hours a day.' Current Mayor Paloma Aguirre noted that the beach has been closed every day this year, with an estimated 40 million gallons of sewage entering the water daily.
The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health has urged the public to avoid water contact at the closed beaches, while advisories remain in place for other areas with elevated bacteria levels. The closures will remain until sampling confirms the water is safe.
