Tijuana River sewage flows into California waters: Over 1,000 Navy SEAL candidates fall ill

San Diego, California – A growing environmental and health crisis is unfolding in San Diego, where contaminated water flowing from Mexico into U.S. waters has raised alarms among Navy SEAL veterans, local authorities, and public health officials. The issue, which has been simmering for decades, has intensified in recent years, affecting military training and public health.

Navy SEAL veteran Rob Sweetman, who served for eight years, shared his firsthand account of the problem, describing the smell and sight of Mexican sewage spilling into U.S. waters as “disgusting.” Sweetman, speaking to Fox News Digital, highlighted the severity of the issue while standing on a hill overlooking the Tijuana River estuary in California, just a mile away from where SEALs undergo their grueling training.

The contamination stems from the Tijuana River, which has long been plagued by sewage and waste that cross the U.S.-Mexico border into San Diego’s coastal waters. The situation hit crisis levels in 2024, when a report revealed that 44 billion gallons of polluted water, including raw sewage, were released along the California coast in 2023—marking the highest levels on record since at least 2000.

Sweetman explained that SEAL candidates, who train in the waters just a mile from the Tijuana River, have been particularly affected by the polluted water. A Department of Defense report in February revealed that between January 2019 and May 2023, over 1,100 cases of acute gastrointestinal illnesses were reported among SEAL candidates due to exposure to contaminated water. This alarming statistic raises concerns about the long-term health risks for SEAL candidates and active duty personnel.

Local veterans, including Kate Monroe, a Marine Corps veteran and CEO of VetComm, have expressed growing concern about the impact of the contamination on both military personnel and civilians. Monroe, who advocates for disabled veterans, stated that the water crisis in San Diego has reached a level akin to the infamous Camp Lejeune water contamination crisis, which sickened thousands of Marines with toxic water from the 1950s to the 1980s.

The Navy SEALs, with their headquarters in San Diego, are directly impacted by this water crisis. Training exercises in the Tijuana River estuary and other nearby coastal areas expose SEAL candidates to harmful pathogens from the sewage-contaminated waters. Sweetman and others have raised the alarm, likening the situation to a “national security crisis” that could affect the future of U.S. special operations training.

Navy SEAL veteran Jeff Gum shared his own experience with contaminated water during his training in 2008, describing the intense nausea and illness he experienced before his Hell Week training. Gum attributes his symptoms to the polluted waters, further underscoring the serious health risks faced by SEAL candidates and the broader community.

The issue has caught the attention of both local veterans and officials. Monroe has warned that the ongoing crisis could cost the U.S. government billions in compensation for affected veterans, similar to the financial toll of the Camp Lejeune disaster. Meanwhile, Sweetman has called for immediate action to address the sewage problem, emphasizing the urgent need for infrastructure improvements on both sides of the border to prevent further contamination.

In response, a spokesperson for the U.S. Navy stated that the health and safety of SEAL candidates are a top priority. The Navy is actively monitoring water quality in training areas and working with local authorities to ensure that training environments are safe.

As the water crisis continues to unfold, local residents, veterans, and military personnel alike are urging swift action to address the issue, prevent further contamination, and safeguard the health of those who train and live in San Diego.