NASA Detects Tijuana River Sewage Plume From Space Impacting California Coast

NASA's Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) sensor aboard the International Space Station has detected a significant sewage plume flowing from the Tijuana River into the Pacific Ocean, visible from space. The sensor identified a spectral fingerprint of phycocyanin, a pigment in cyanobacteria that poses health risks to humans and animals upon ingestion or inhalation. This discovery highlights the severity of the pollution crisis impacting Imperial Beach and surrounding areas, where untreated sewage and industrial waste have long contaminated coastal waters, affecting public health and marine ecosystems. Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre called the situation a "flashing red alert" and urged the EPA and local governments to expedite infrastructure upgrades and take decisive action to address this public health emergency. Researchers believe EMIT's ability to detect water quality issues remotely can help fill critical data gaps and improve monitoring of highly polluted sites worldwide. The findings underscore the urgent need for coordinated governmental response to mitigate ongoing environmental damage and protect community health.