Dangerous Bacteria Found In Tijuana River Estuary 10News
go to original April 28, 2012

Discovery made at time of recent sewage spill (J. Little/10News)

SAN DIEGO - Researchers have found bacteria in the Tijuana River Estuary that could be hard to treat if someone is infected with the bacteria.

The discovery was made around the same time a computer malfunction at a Tijuana sewage treatment plant dumped 2.5 million gallons of sewage into the Tijuana River. That river crosses north into the United States and dumps into the Pacific Ocean. The spill forced the closure of beaches from Border Field State Park to Coronado.

However, the Tijuana River has historically been polluted for decades by poor infrastructure and conditions in Tijuana.

Researchers are Point Loma Nazarene University recently found bacteria in the soil around the Tijuana River that is unhealthier than your average bacteria.

"These bacteria in particular tend to be highly drug-resistant, which means if you pick up an infection from them they're far less likely to be treatable when we reach the clinic," said microbiologist David Cummings, Ph.D.

Cummings said that bacteria is usually found in places like clinics and hospitals.

"And for us to be finding them out in these wonderful, natural place is unnatural," he said.

"Agencies that are in charge of protecting public health aren't doing their job," said WiLDCOAST Program Manager Paloma Aguirre.

WiLDCOAST advocates work to clean up the coastal area and protect it from issues like the pollution streaming through the Tijuana River. The group cites faulty Mexican infrastructure and policies for the pollution in the river. They also blame the U.S. government for not working with Mexico on the watershed that is shared by both countries.

WiLDCOAST also conducted a survey in 2007 that showed 3 out of 5 people who swam in the contaminated water got sick. Aguirre said, on average, the water at Border Field State Park is closed 300 days a year. Imperial Beach is closed 56 days a year.

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