A wave of contaminated water flowing from Mexico into California is making waves for all the wrong reasons – and not just for the locals. Navy SEALs, the elite force known for thriving in the harshest conditions, are now up against a new kind of enemy: sewage-tainted waters at their San Diego training grounds.

Standing above the Tijuana River estuary, Navy SEAL veteran Rob Sweetman doesn't mince words: the stench and mist of sewage pouring across the border is "disgusting." And it's not just an eyesore – it's a health hazard. Just a mile from where Sweetman spoke, SEALs and trainees have been exposed to these waters, with over 1,000 candidates falling ill in the last five years, according to a Department of Defense report.

The crisis, which has been simmering for decades, is now boiling over. Local veterans and public health advocates are sounding the alarm, comparing the situation to the infamous Camp Lejeune water contamination disaster that sickened thousands of Marines. Kate Monroe, Marine Corps vet and CEO of VetComm, says, "Millions of people live here and are breathing the air of this water. It goes well beyond the military. It’s a FEMA-level travesty, and we have just been hiding it."

In 2023 alone, a whopping 44 billion gallons of contaminated water, rife with raw sewage, washed up along the California coast – the highest amount in at least 25 years. The culprit: outdated wastewater infrastructure across the Mexican border, struggling to keep up with Tijuana's explosive growth.

The Tijuana River has long been a source of pollution, tainting beach after beach in San Diego. But the impact on the Navy SEALs is particularly alarming. A report from the Department of Defense's inspector general found more than 1,100 acute gastrointestinal illnesses among SEAL candidates from 2019 to 2023. The report didn't hold back: the Naval Special Warfare Command failed to heed local beach closure warnings, putting trainees at unnecessary risk.

Monroe, who helps veterans navigate health claims, noticed a disturbing rise in unusual illnesses among SEALs retiring from the area: intestinal issues, skin problems, and cancers not usually seen on the list of service-related health complaints. She traces this uptick directly to time spent training in San Diego's toxic waters.

For those still in the field, the risks are far from hypothetical. Retired SEAL Jeff Gum recalls being sidelined by severe nausea just days before the infamous Hell Week of training – after exposure to the polluted Pacific. Diagnosed with viral gastroenteritis, his illness spiraled into rhabdomyolysis, a potentially deadly condition where muscle breaks down and poisons the blood. Gum ultimately recovered, but only after multiple attempts and a stint on medical leave.

Sweetman doesn't sugarcoat it: "Everyone who goes through training is going to get sick. They're going to get infections, and it's terrible." He adds that the problem has escalated as Tijuana’s population has doubled, sending even more untreated waste into the water. Even the legendary toughness of SEALs shouldn't mean braving waters better suited for a hazmat suit.

As Monroe puts it, this could become another multi-billion-dollar disaster like Camp Lejeune, which cost the government more than $20 billion in legal claims and compensation. "It would be cheaper for our country to fix this than it would to allow it to continue," she says.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin is set to visit San Diego to witness the crisis himself, promising that cleaning up the waterways is now a top priority. The Navy, for its part, says it’s monitoring water quality closely and is committed to the safety of its personnel. But for now, the Tijuana River keeps pumping out "green, nasty water" as Sweetman describes it – foam and all – relentlessly heading for Imperial Beach and the open ocean.

For anyone questioning the reality of the problem, Sweetman offers a parting image: "I'm here specifically because I want people to see just how bad it is. The moment I leave here, I'm going to go take a shower." Honestly, who could blame him?

San Diego News

Toxic Tides: Mexican Sewage Floods Navy SEAL Training Waters, Sparking 'Next Camp Lejeune' Fears