San Diego’s Imperial Beach Closes After Sewage-Contaminated Water Flows From Tijuana River

A sign warning beachgoers to keep out of the water at Imperial Beach is posted on May 27, 2019, after contaminated runoff flowed into the area from Mexico’s Tijuana River. (Credit: KSWB via CNN)

by: Associated Press

Posted: May 27, 2019 / 03:09 PM PDT

Updated: May 27, 2019 / 08:41 PM PDT

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Imperial Beach’s entire shoreline has been closed to swimmers after sewage-contaminated runoff has flowed into California from Mexico’s Tijuana River.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the San Diego County Department of Environment Health issued the order Sunday, expanding the closure that has been in place for months for part of the coast.

Officials say more than 110 million gallons of toxic storm water has flowed north from Mexico since April.

The closure will be in place until testing shows the water is safe.

California and the cities of Imperial Beach and Chula Vista sued the Trump administration last year over the recurring toxic flows from Mexico.

The lawsuit seeks to force the U.S. government to upgrade the collection system that diverts flows to a wastewater treatment plant.