EPA Announces Plan to Address Water Pollution from the Tijuana River Watershed
The U.S. EPA is pledging $630 million to help clean up and prevent raw sewage from flowing into the U.S. from Mexico between San Diego and Tijuana.
EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Radhika Fox announced the decision to move forward with an environmental review of a suite of water infrastructure projects that would address this transborder water pollution.
The issue has impacted the area along the Tijuana River Valley for decades, reported KRON 4 News.
Raw sewage usually pours into the valley and out to the ocean in Imperial Beach, California, which most of it is from Tijuana’s outdated sewage and storm water infrastructure.
“The southern part of our beach has been closed 200 days this year, 300 days last year, we still have a huge problem,” said Imperial Beach Mayor Serge Dedina, reported KRON 4 News.
The plan includes:
- Expanding the existing South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (ITP) owned and operated by the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC);
- Diverting and treating Tijuana River water at a new facility adjacent to the existing ITP;
- Conveying canyon flows to the expanded ITP;
- Repairing portions of the collection system in Mexico to prevent sewage leaks;
- Beneficially reusing treated wastewater instead of discharging it into the Tijuana River;
- Installing a river trash boom; and
- Constructing a new San Antonio de los Buenos Treatment Plant in Tijuana.
“The projects considered in the EPA plan for the sanitation of the Tijuana River basin will significantly improve the quality of water in this river and on the beaches of both countries,” said Dr. Humberto Marengo Mogollón, head of the General Technical Subdirectorate in CONAGUA. “CONAGUA, in accordance with the budget allocated to it, will provide its support for the completion of sanitation projects on the Mexican side that contribute to the fulfillment of that objective.”
As EPA completes its assessment of infrastructure options, a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review will move forward to reduce potential negative environmental impacts from the projects that make up the comprehensive solution.
This review is needed before design and construction can begin, according to EPA.