“It’s a ticking time bomb. I am extremely concerned that people may begin to perish because of this,” says Paloma Aguirre, mayor of Imperial Beach. San Diego County has declared a state of emergency over the Tijuana River sewage crisis. Unhealthy conditions are driving tourists and businesses away from Imperial Beach, a coastal city located at the southernmost tip of San Diego County, right on the U.S.–Mexico border. Once renowned for its world-class surfing and as the home of the Ironman triathlon, the city now faces significant environmental challenges.

Join us as we speak with Aguirre, the current mayor of Imperial Beach, and Serge Dedina, the former mayor who grew up in the area. We also visit Tijuana’s wastewater treatment plant and interview Maria-Elena Giner, U.S. commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission, along with David Gibson, executive officer of the California Regional Water Quality Control Board.

*Views expressed in this video/article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Epoch Times.