IMPERIAL BEACH, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — The coastline in Imperial Beach has been closed for nearly three years, but on Saturday the ocean in that area was officially cleared by county health officials after several years of continuous closures. Residents have been dealing with beach closures in Imperial Beach for more than 1,000 days in a row, and are now also dealing with air quality concerns due to toxic gases that were detected in the air -- all due to the cross-border sewage crisis that has been plaguing the area for years. Researchers back in Tijuana River Valley, still finding hydrogen sulfide in the air On Saturday at 4:34 p.m., the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality officially lifted the water closure for the areas around the Imperial Beach Pier and Carnation Avenue. The advisory for the Silver Strand Shoreline in Coronado was also lifted. Now the Beach & Bay Water Quality Program's map shows all of Coronado, except the Glorietta Bay Park Shoreline, and the northern part of Imperial Beach as cleared for swimming and surfing. Imperial Beach coastline closure hits 1,000 consecutive days There are however still closures in place at the Tijuana Slough Shoreline and at Cortez Avenue in Imperial Beach. Beach & Bay Water Quality Program map 9/22/2024 (County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality) Imperial Beach sewage crisis causing fears of long-term illnesses Millions of gallons of raw sewage has been flowing across the border from Mexico into the U.S. everyday for years, however that problem could soon be a thing of the past as a new wastewater treatment plant being built in Mexico is expected to drastically reduce the amount of sewage that makes it to the ocean when it is finished this fall.