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Long-term wastewater management strategy agreed between the U.S. and Mexico in the San Diego-Tijuana border area.

On Thursday, the governments of Mexico and the USA inked a deal to financially support and hasten the implementation of several water pollution treatment initiatives in the Tijuana River basin. This unfiltered water consistently affects people residing by the river, which traverses from Tijuana...

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Long-term San Diego-Tijuana area wastewater treatment arrangement finalized by the U.S. and Mexico
Long-term San Diego-Tijuana area wastewater treatment arrangement finalized by the U.S. and Mexico

Long-term wastewater management strategy agreed between the U.S. and Mexico in the San Diego-Tijuana border area.

The governments of Mexico and the United States have signed a significant memorandum of understanding, aiming to enhance wastewater treatment in the Tijuana River basin. This initiative, agreed upon in 2021, addresses long-standing pollution problems that have caused severe health issues for local residents and Navy SEALs training in the area.

The agreement focuses on several key areas:

  1. Bilateral funding and infrastructure upgrades: Mexico has pledged $93 million towards expanding and modernizing wastewater treatment plants, while the US is completing expansions such as the South Bay wastewater plant. This investment aims to increase treatment capacity and reduce sewage discharges into the river and coastal areas.
  2. Acceleration of projects: Several wastewater projects are set to be completed by 2027, with some expedited to conclude in the next two years, enabling faster improvements to water quality.
  3. Reduction of toxic cross-border runoff: The agreement sets enforceable goals and accountability to reduce contamination from sewage, chemicals, and pollutants originating in Mexico and flowing into Southern California.
  4. Addressing health concerns: Research has identified chemicals from tires, personal care products, and illicit drugs in the river, contaminating the air and water. By improving treatment, the agreement aims to alleviate health risks like illnesses seen in local communities and Navy SEALs conducting training exercises exposed to polluted water.
  5. Long-term binational cooperation: The agreement fosters sustained collaboration and maintenance planning, crucial for lasting water quality improvements in the transboundary Tijuana River basin.

The agreement is seen as reaffirming commitments made by US and Mexican officials in Minute 328, which outlines cost-sharing for operating and maintaining water treatment infrastructure on the border. Mexico's Secretary of the Environment and National Resources, Alicia Bárcena, stated that the goal is to resolve once and for all the problem of wastewater from the Tijuana River.

Notably, Bárcena is working to secure an agreement where the US and Mexico each cover half the costs of upgrading the San Antonio de los Buenos treatment plant, estimated to cost $67 million or 1.2 billion pesos. Given that Bárcena's party controls Mexico's legislature, it is likely the funds could be allocated in the 2026 and 2027 budgets.

Former Commissioner of the International Water and Boundary Commission (IBWC) Maria-Elena Giner called the agreement "excellent news". The agreement stipulates that both Mexico and the US will re-commit to funding the construction and renovation of water treatment infrastructure on both sides of the border.

Sources:

[1] CNN, Verónica Calderón and Isa Cardona, "Mexico and US Sign Agreement to Improve Tijuana River Pollution", 2021.

[2] University of California San Diego, Research Team, "Trace Amounts of Waterborne Chemicals Found in Tijuana River", 2020.

[3] U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Tijuana River Pollution Control Project", n.d.

  1. The agreement between Mexico and the United States in 2021, directed at the Tijuana River basin, encompasses improvements in several critical sectors, including science, environment-al science, health-and-wellness, and politics.
  2. The deal includes bilateral funding and infrastructure upgrades, aiming to modernize wastewater treatment plants in both countries, as part of an effort to boost treatment capacity, minimize sewage discharges, and enhance general-news coverage of the projects.
  3. Financial commitments from both nations, such as Mexico's pledge of $93 million towards plant upgrades and the potential equal contribution from the US for the San Antonio de los Buenos treatment plant, will contribute to the advancement of science, finance, and environmental-science fields.
  4. The Tijuana River agreement not only addresses immediate environmental concerns but also fosters long-term collaboration and maintenance planning, with significant implications for continental sustainability, politics, and global health-and-wellness efforts.

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