We Called It. We Fought It. Now We're Proving It Works: The Story of C4CC's "Stop the Stink" Campaign

From Discovery to Vindication: How Citizens for Coastal Conservancy Led the Fight Against Hydrogen Sulfide Pollution

The Discovery: Late 2022

It started with a smell. Not just any smell—a rotten egg stench so overpowering that it drove residents from their homes, closed beaches, and made the South Bay unlivable. But before the news outlets reported it, before the county acknowledged it, before the EPA took notice, Citizens for Coastal Conservancy was there, documenting it, investigating it, and demanding action.

In late 2022, C4CC discovered something alarming in the Tijuana River Valley: massive foam formations and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) emissions that were poisoning the air and water of Imperial Beach and the South Bay. While others were still asking "What's that smell?", C4CC was already gathering data, talking to residents, and connecting the dots.

The foam wasn't just unsightly. It was a symptom of a much larger problem: untreated sewage flowing north from Tijuana, creating toxic conditions that violated federal air quality standards and threatened the health of thousands of residents.

C4CC didn't wait for permission to act. We didn't wait for the government to acknowledge the problem. We documented it ourselves and brought it to the world.

The Campaign: "Stop the Stink"

Shortly after our discovery, C4CC launched the "Stop the Stink" campaign—a grassroots movement demanding action on hydrogen sulfide emissions in the Tijuana River Valley.

We created iconic signage. We organized community events. We got national news coverage. We forced the conversation into the mainstream media and onto the agendas of elected officials who had been ignoring the problem for years.

The message was simple but powerful: The South Bay deserves clean air. The South Bay deserves to breathe.

Our campaign resonated because it was rooted in lived experience. We weren't academics writing papers. We weren't bureaucrats issuing reports. We were community members, scientists, and advocates who had smelled the stench, seen the foam, and decided that enough was enough.

The Years of Struggle: 2023-2025

But here's what the media headlines didn't capture: the problem didn't go away.

Year after year, residents continued to suffer. H2S emissions spiked during warm months. The foam returned. Children with asthma struggled to breathe. Families couldn't enjoy their beaches. Property values declined. Businesses suffered.

Despite national news coverage. Despite community outrage. Despite C4CC's relentless advocacy, the fundamental problem persisted: the sewage kept flowing, the emissions kept rising, and the South Bay kept suffering.

We watched as:

• Federal agencies issued guidelines but took limited action
• Local officials expressed concern but failed to demand real solutions
• Mexico's sewage treatment infrastructure remained inadequate
• The cross-border flows continued unabated
• H2S levels regularly exceeded federal safety thresholds

The problem didn't just persist—it got worse.

In 2024 and 2025, H2S emissions reached dangerous levels multiple times. The South Bay experienced some of the worst air quality events in years. Residents reported health impacts: headaches, respiratory issues, nausea, and worse.

C4CC continued to fight. We documented every spike. We demanded accountability. We pushed for solutions. But we also watched, frustrated, as the same problems kept recurring, year after year.

The Breakthrough: April 2026

Then, something changed.

Yesterday, the pumps in Mexico turned back on.

The PBCILA pumping plant—which had been offline since November 2025—resumed operations. This wasn't a coincidence. This wasn't a minor maintenance fix. This was the solution that C4CC had been advocating for all along: actually moving the sewage away from the river instead of letting it flow north into the United States.

And the results were immediate.

Within hours of the pumps resuming, H2S emissions dropped dramatically. The stench that had plagued the South Bay for months began to subside. Residents who had been suffering could finally breathe.

This is what we've been saying all along: The solution works. When you actually address the source of the problem—when you actually move the sewage instead of letting it flow into our communities—the air gets cleaner. The water gets safer. People can live their lives.

The Data Tells the Story

The numbers are stark:

Before the pumps resumed:

• H2S emissions reached 384 parts per billion (ppb) this past weekend
• This exceeded the Level 1 Federal Acute Exposure Guideline Level (AEGL) threshold of 360 ppb
• The EPA defines this level as causing "notable discomfort, irritation, or certain asymptomatic non-sensory effects"
• Residents experienced respiratory distress, headaches, and nausea
• Outdoor activities became impossible

After the pumps resumed:

• H2S emissions dropped to 5 ppb by 10 a.m.
• This is below the San Diego Air Pollution Control District's 30 ppb advisory threshold
• The stench subsided
• Residents could breathe again
• Life returned to normal

That's not a coincidence. That's proof.

What This Means: C4CC Was Right

For nearly four years, C4CC has been saying the same thing: The solution is to move the sewage, not let it poison our communities.

We've been mocked. We've been dismissed. We've been told the problem was too big, too complex, too international to solve.

But this past weekend proved what we've known all along: When you actually implement the solution, it works.

The pumps are on. The sewage is being moved. The air is cleaner. The water is safer. The South Bay is breathing.

This is what victory looks like. This is what happens when a community refuses to accept poison as normal. This is what happens when advocates like C4CC refuse to give up.

But the Fight Isn't Over: The Pump Isn't a Permanent Solution

Here's the critical part that the news headlines won't capture: This is just the beginning.

Yes, the pumps are on now. Yes, the air is cleaner. Yes, residents are breathing easier.

But we need to be honest about what we're celebrating: The pumps are a temporary fix, not a permanent solution.

The Problem with Pump-Dependent Solutions

The PBCILA pumping plant is currently the primary tool for managing cross-border sewage flows. When it works, it works well—as we've just seen. But when it doesn't work, the South Bay suffers.

The pumps go offline for multiple reasons:

• Construction and maintenance: Repairs and upgrades require shutdowns
• Rainfall and flooding: Heavy rain events overwhelm the system and force shutdowns
• Equipment failures: Mechanical breakdowns require extended downtime
• Seasonal variations: Dry season vs. wet season creates unpredictable operational challenges
• Cross-border coordination issues: Delays in Mexico can disrupt operations

This is exactly what happened in November 2025, when the pumps went offline for five months. It's not a one-time occurrence. It's a pattern that will repeat unless we build permanent infrastructure.

Why Pumps Alone Aren't Enough

The harsh reality: We cannot manage a sewage crisis with pumps. We need to eliminate the sewage flows at the source.

Pumps are emergency measures. They're band-aids on a much larger wound. They can buy us time, but they cannot provide the permanent solution that the South Bay deserves.

Consider the facts:

• The pumps require constant maintenance and monitoring
• They can fail without warning
• They're vulnerable to weather events
• They're vulnerable to political decisions and budget constraints
• They're vulnerable to cross-border coordination challenges

Every time the pumps go offline, the South Bay suffers. Every time it rains heavily, the South Bay suffers. Every time there's construction or maintenance, the South Bay suffers.

This is not acceptable for a permanent solution.

The Real Questions

Why were the pumps off for five months in the first place?

Why did it take a community advocacy organization to force action that should have been taken years ago?

What happens when the pumps go off again? Because history tells us they will.

What happens during the next heavy rain event? What happens during the next construction project?

Is this a permanent solution, or just a temporary fix that will fail us again and again?

What Needs to Happen Now

C4CC is calling for immediate and long-term action:

Immediate Actions (Next 6 Months):

1. Sustained pump operations: The PBCILA pumping plant must remain operational 24/7, 365 days a year. Maintenance must be scheduled during optimal conditions. No more five-month shutdowns.

2. Backup systems: Redundant pumping capacity must be built to ensure that maintenance or equipment failures don't leave the South Bay unprotected.

3. Weather preparedness: Protocols must be established to handle rainfall and flooding events without forcing pump shutdowns.

4. Rapid response protocols: When pumps do go offline, there must be immediate notification to residents and rapid repair timelines.

Long-Term Solutions (1-5 Years):

5. Permanent sewage treatment infrastructure: Mexico and the United States must invest in comprehensive sewage treatment infrastructure that eliminates cross-border flows at the source. This is the only real solution.

6. Year-round sewerage management: We need infrastructure that handles seasonal variations, rainfall events, and population fluctuations without creating pollution crises.

7. Accountability mechanisms: There must be clear protocols, monitoring, and accountability to ensure that when problems arise, they're addressed immediately—not months later.

Community & Health Support:

8. Community involvement: The South Bay community must have a seat at the table in all decisions affecting our air, water, and health.

9. Transparent monitoring: The public must have real-time access to H2S emissions data and other pollution metrics. No more surprises.

10. Health support: The county must provide comprehensive health services to residents who have suffered from years of exposure to dangerous pollution levels. This includes medical monitoring, treatment, and compensation for health impacts.

The Bottom Line:

Pumps are not the solution. They're a temporary measure. We need permanent infrastructure that eliminates sewage flows at the source, handles year-round challenges, and protects the South Bay community 365 days a year.

The Larger Story: Environmental Justice

This story is about more than just hydrogen sulfide emissions. It's about environmental justice.

Imperial Beach is the poorest beach community in San Diego County. It's predominantly Latino and working-class. It's the community closest to the source of the pollution. It's the community that has borne the heaviest burden of cross-border sewage pollution for decades.

For years, while wealthier beach communities enjoyed clean air and water, the South Bay suffered. While elected officials in other parts of the county pursued luxury development, the South Bay was being poisoned.

C4CC's "Stop the Stink" campaign wasn't just about bad smells. It was about environmental justice. It was about demanding that the poorest, most vulnerable community in San Diego County deserves the same clean air and water as everyone else.

And yesterday's pump activation proves that when we fight hard enough, when we refuse to accept injustice, when we organize and advocate and demand change—we can win.

What This Means for You

If you live in the South Bay, this is good news. You can breathe easier—literally. The air is cleaner. The water is safer.

But don't let this moment pass. Don't assume the problem is solved. History tells us that complacency leads to backsliding. Vigilance leads to sustained change.

C4CC will continue to monitor H2S emissions. We will continue to hold officials accountable. We will continue to fight for permanent solutions.

But we can't do it alone. We need the South Bay community to stay engaged. We need residents to report problems. We need advocates to keep the pressure on. We need elected officials to understand that this issue isn't going away.

The Vindication

When C4CC discovered the foam and stench in late 2022, we were one of the first to say: "This is a problem. This needs to be fixed. And here's how we fix it."

For years, we were told we were exaggerating. We were told the problem was overblown. We were told there was nothing that could be done.

Yesterday, the pumps turned on. The stench subsided. And suddenly, everyone understood what C4CC had been saying all along: The solution works.

This is what happens when you listen to the community. This is what happens when you invest in real solutions. This is what happens when you refuse to accept poison as normal.

The South Bay is breathing again. And C4CC was here from the beginning, fighting to make sure it could.

Stay Engaged

This is not the end of the story. It's a turning point.

Follow C4CC for updates on:

• H2S emissions monitoring
• Pump operations and maintenance
• Long-term infrastructure solutions
• Environmental justice advocacy
• Community health initiatives

Sign up for alerts:

• H2S emissions alerts from the San Diego Air Pollution Control District
• C4CC updates on Tijuana River Valley pollution
• Community action opportunities

Take action:

• Share this story with your networks
• Contact elected officials demanding sustained pump operations
• Support C4CC's advocacy work
• Join our community events and meetings

The Bottom Line

C4CC called it. C4CC fought it. And now, C4CC is proving what works—and what doesn't.

Yes, the pumps work. When they're on, the air gets cleaner. When they're on, residents can breathe.

But pumps are not the answer. They're a temporary measure that will fail us again and again—when it rains, when there's maintenance, when there's construction, when there's a political decision to shut them down.

The South Bay deserves more than temporary fixes. The South Bay deserves permanent solutions.

We need sewage treatment infrastructure that works year-round. We need solutions that don't depend on pumps staying online. We need infrastructure that handles rainfall, construction, maintenance, and all the other challenges that will inevitably arise.

The South Bay deserves clean air 365 days a year. The South Bay deserves clean water year-round. The South Bay deserves to breathe without worrying about the next pump shutdown.

Yesterday, the pumps turned on and the stench subsided. That's progress. But it's not victory.

The real victory will come when we build permanent infrastructure that eliminates cross-border sewage flows at the source. That's when the South Bay will truly be free.

The stink is stopping—for now. But the fight for a permanent solution continues. And C4CC will be here every step of the way.

About Citizens for Coastal Conservancy

Citizens for Coastal Conservancy (C4CC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting Southern California's coastal environments through education, research, and advocacy. Since late 2022, C4CC has been at the forefront of the fight against cross-border sewage pollution, hydrogen sulfide emissions, and environmental injustice in the Tijuana River Valley.

We don't wait for permission to act. We don't accept poison as normal. We fight for the communities that have been ignored for too long.

The South Bay is our home. And we will never stop fighting to protect it.

Resources

• H2S Emissions Alerts: Sign up at the San Diego Air Pollution Control District website
• Real-time Pollution Data: County of San Diego Tijuana River Valley Dashboard
• Community Support: Tijuana River Coalition
• Health Guidance: San Diego County Public Health Services
• Get Involved: Contact C4CC at [contact info]

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• Environmental Justice in the South Bay [blocked]