Mexico's Toxic Waters Impact California | Jim Desmond

California Insider

Sewage from Tijuana has shut down one of San Diego’s most popular beaches for over 1,000 days. The contamination is now threatening Navy SEAL training areas, local businesses, and California’s coastal environment. But despite years of warnings, there’s still no long-term fix in sight.

In this episode of California Insider, San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond explains the real cause behind the pollution, why expanding wastewater treatment plants may not solve it, and what’s holding up cross-border solutions. We also examine the potential Superfund designation and what it would mean for federal cleanup efforts.

Plus, we turn to another risk along the coast: spent nuclear fuel stored at San Onofre, just steps from the ocean. With no national storage plan, California may be stuck with long-term nuclear waste—raising new concerns about safety, infrastructure, and federal responsibility.