The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement outlining a timeline to address ongoing issues with the Tijuana River, which has been a source of sewage contamination affecting California beaches, officials announced on Thursday.
The Tijuana River has been responsible for billions of gallons of waste and toxic pollutants entering the Pacific Ocean, impacting the health of naval seals undergoing training in Southern California. This situation persists despite decades of efforts and substantial financial investments aimed at resolving the problem, including initiatives during the Trump administration.
Mexico’s Environment Secretary, Alicia Barcena, made the announcement after discussions with Lee Zeldin, who heads the Environmental Protection Agency in Mexico City. This agreement follows Zeldin’s visit to San Diego three months ago, where he met with Mexican officials and assessed the conditions along the border.
“I witnessed the living conditions that many residents face,” Zeldin remarked. “I observed firsthand the degradation of the Tijuana River valley and the numerous beach closures. Meeting with Navy Seals impacted by this issue was a powerful experience for me.”
The agreement includes a commitment from Mexico to allocate $93 million for infrastructure projects, adhering to a defined schedule for priority initiatives by 2027.
The Tijuana River, stretching 120 miles (195 km) and traversing southern California, flows through areas owned by the military before reaching the Pacific Ocean. However, outdated wastewater treatment facilities in Tijuana are struggling to keep pace with a growing population and booming industries, notably including a manufacturing plant known as Makiradora.
Since 2018, there has been a troubling increase in the toxicity levels in the river, with over 100 billion gallons of untreated sewage mixed with industrial waste making its way into San Diego County.
This pollution has affected not only swimmers and surfers but also lifeguards, schoolchildren, and border patrol agents who don’t even enter the water. According to scientists, sewage is evaporating and turning into air pollution that people end up breathing.
California beaches near the border have been frequently closed over the last four years due to contamination issues.
“Communities along the Tijuana River have faced a long-standing public health crisis,” stated Christan Calvert, associate director of California River Conservation in the American River.
Since 2020, more than $653 million has been designated to tackle this issue, but progress has been hampered primarily by delays from the Mexican government, Zeldin noted.
Zeldin remarked that the agreement’s significance lies in addressing factors such as population growth and the operational costs that could lead to a sustainable resolution.
He commended the new administration of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office last October, for its commitment to tackle the problem.
Sheinbaum stated that her government would enhance its wastewater treatment facilities to mitigate the pollution reaching the coast. “There are additional measures set for next year aimed at completing the Tijuana sanitation system throughout the entire metropolitan area,” she added.
Sheinbaum also emphasized the importance of U.S. investment in collaborative efforts. She mentioned that the Tijuana River Agreement could effectively tackle issues that might not be resolved merely through technical discussions. This agreement also entails further water allocations to the U.S. to address Mexico’s water obligations related to the Rio Grande.
The U.S. has committed to finalizing the expansion of its South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant next month and has agreed that Mexico will redirect 10 million gallons of treated sewage away from the coast this year.
