People from near and far have traditionally flocked to the famed Coronado Beach in San Diego for an idyllic escape. The upscale resort town boasts pristine sands, turquoise waters, and the iconic Hotel del Coronado—where rooms cost upwards of $1,000 per night. But lately, paradise has a decidedly unpleasant smell.
As many as 38 million gallons of wastewater per day from Mexico have increasingly rendered this idyllic seaside hub off-limits, turning what should be one of California's most beautiful beaches into a public health crisis, one which some are referring to as “poo-nami” (yes, it's okay to chuckle.) And it's not just the water that's the problem—it's the air, too.
Related: This State Has Some of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the Country—And It’s Not Florida
In 2025, the beaches in front of the historic Hotel del Coronado were shuttered for 129 days due to the fecal flood, many of these during peak summer. For a destination whose entire economy depends on tourism and recreation, that's devastating.
Even non-beachgoers aren't spared. The entertainment director at the Coronado Shores condo community told the NY Post that he's forced to close his windows several times a week to keep out the sewer-like odors wafting from the contaminated waters.
While Coronado Beach is still open, there are multiple warning signs around the water due to high levels of bacteria that may cause illness.
Related: One of the Top-Ranked Experiences in the U.S. Is in Las Vegas, and It Has Nothing To Do With the Strip
Why Is Coronado Beach Dealing With This?
The culprit is the Tijuana River, which carries wastewater directly into the Pacific. While Tijuana's sewage has affected the U.S. for years, pollution has surged amid a population boom in the border town, whose population has more than doubled over the past 30 years to 2.3 million, straining its wastewater resources.
The problem extends beyond beach closures. According to a recent survey cited in the NY Post, symptoms of exposure to hydrogen sulfide gas included respiratory issues, headaches, stomach illness, and even cognitive issues such as difficulty concentrating. Children are reportedly waking up with headaches, seniors are struggling to breathe, and residents describe feeling like prisoners in their own homes.
San Diego County Board of Supervisors Paloma Aguirre has called it the "worst environmental disaster in the United States" and called on Governor Gavin Newsom to declare a State of Emergency for the Tijuana River crisis.
What Are They Doing About It?
The Trump Administration says it's taking action. The administration negotiated two new agreements with Mexico—the Memorandum of Understanding in July 2025 and Minute 333 in December 2025—committing both sides to speed up project timelines. The EPA also completed a 100-day expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, which prevents an additional 10 million gallons per day of raw sewage from reaching U.S. waters.
But for Coronado residents and the tourists who used to flock there, these improvements have come too late.
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