What is the Tijuana River sewage crisis?

The Tijuana River sewage crisis is a decades-long environmental disaster where untreated sewage from Tijuana, Mexico flows across the border into Imperial Beach and South Bay San Diego communities. This cross-border sewage pollution causes beach closures, public health risks, habitat destruction, and economic losses. The crisis has resulted in over 900 days of beach closures and a 480% increase in sewage dumping.

What is the solution to the Tijuana River sewage crisis?

The science-based solution is upstream diversion in Mexico through 24/7 operation of the PBCILA (Punta Bandera International Wastewater Treatment Plant) pumps. Data from the Tijuana River Diversion Study shows that increasing diversion capacity from 1,000 liters per second to 2,600 lps reduces transboundary flow days from 138 to just 30 days per year—a 78% reduction. This addresses the root cause rather than managing symptoms, without requiring new infrastructure.

How do PBCILA pumps solve the Tijuana sewage problem?

PBCILA pumps divert sewage before it crosses the border by capturing flows upstream in Mexico and redirecting them to treatment facilities. When operated at full capacity 24/7 with proper maintenance, these pumps can handle 2,600 liters per second, reducing transboundary sewage flow days from 138 to 30 per year. This proven infrastructure just needs adequate funding, staffing, and operational commitment to work effectively.

Why are Imperial Beach beaches closed so often?

Imperial Beach and South Bay beaches experience frequent closures due to cross-border sewage pollution from the Tijuana River. Untreated sewage contains dangerous bacteria and pathogens that make the water unsafe for swimming and recreation. With 138 transboundary flow days per year under current conditions, beaches are closed for extended periods, harming public health, tourism, and the local economy. Proper PBCILA pump operation could reduce this to 30 days per year.

What can I do to help solve the Tijuana River sewage crisis?

You can help by: 1) Signing C4CC's petition demanding 24/7 PBCILA pump operation and proper funding, 2) Contacting elected officials to prioritize this issue, 3) Donating to support C4CC's advocacy work, 4) Sharing information about the science-based solution with your community, and 5) Attending C4CC community meetings to stay informed and get involved in advocacy efforts.

Exit-Intent Popup A/B Test

Real-time performance metrics for messaging variants

Total Views

1,000

Across all variants

Total Conversions

248

24.8% conversion rate

Email Signups

203

New subscribers

Donate Clicks

Potential donors

Test In Progress

Not yet significant (2% confidence, need 95%)

Variant Performance

Variant A: Urgency & Crisis

250 views

Badge: BEFORE YOU GO

Headline: Our Beaches Need You

Copy: 900+ days of beach closures. 480% more sewage dumping. Our community can't wait any longer. Stay connected and help us fight for clean beaches.

CTAs: "Get Action Alerts" / "Make a Donation Instead"

Email Signups

18.0%

Donate Clicks

4.8%

Total Conversions

22.8%

193

Dismissed

77.2%

22.8%

Overall Rate

250 views

Variant B: Community & Belonging

245 views

Badge: ONE MORE THING

Headline: Join 3,085+ Coastal Defenders

Copy: You're not alone in this fight. Join thousands of South Bay residents who receive our action alerts and make a real difference in protecting our beaches.

CTAs: "Join the Movement" / "Donate to the Cause"

Email Signups

23.7%

Donate Clicks

3.3%

Total Conversions

27.0%

179

Dismissed

73.1%

27.0%

Overall Rate

245 views

Variant C: Impact & Empowerment

248 views

Badge: BEFORE YOU GO

Headline: Your Voice Can Change Everything

Copy: Every signature, every donation, every voice matters. See how our community has already forced action—and how you can help us win.

CTAs: "Get Involved" / "See Our Impact"

Email Signups

21.0%

Donate Clicks

6.0%

Total Conversions

27.0%

181

Dismissed

73.0%

27.0%

Overall Rate

248 views

Variant D: Personal Connection

257 views

Badge: WAIT

Headline: Help Us Protect Your Beach

Copy: Imperial Beach is more than just a coastline—it's where families play, surfers ride waves, and communities gather. Help us keep it clean and safe.

CTAs: "Stay Updated" / "Support Our Work"

Email Signups

18.7%

Donate Clicks

3.9%

Total Conversions

22.6%

199

Dismissed

77.4%

22.6%

Overall Rate

257 views

Testing Notes

Minimum Sample Size: 100 views per variant required for statistical significance

Confidence Threshold: 95% confidence (p-value < 0.05) needed to declare a winner

Test Duration: Recommended 2-4 weeks for sufficient data collection

Traffic Split: 25% to each variant (A, B, C, D) with random assignment

Note: This dashboard shows simulated data for demonstration. In production, connect to your analytics platform (Umami, Google Analytics, etc.) to display real conversion data.