Mexico has broken ground on a long-awaited replacement for a crumbling wastewater treatment plant in Baja California that officials said will dramatically reduce the discharge of sewage that has fouled San Diego and Tijuana shorelines.
Mexico broke ground Thursday on the long-awaited replacement for a crumbling wastewater treatment plant in Baja California that officials said will dramatically reduce the discharge of sewage that has fouled San Diego and Tijuana shorelines.
During the more than 40 years I have resided in San Diego County, trash and sediment accumulation, along with toxic and wastewater contamination of the Tijuana River and our binational coastal waters, have been a persistent health concern for South San Diego and Tijuana residents. I have been actively involved in trying to bring attention to and address these issues since the 1990s, when I first represented the area in the state Legislature. As a full-time Imperial Beach resident since 2009, I long to see skilled surfers and frolicking families enjoy our beach waters again.
Even though the federal government gave San Diego $300 million to alleviate the decades-long problem of Tijuana sewage spilling over the U.S.-Mexico border, and even though everyone seems to generally agree it should be spent on a bigger border wastewater treatment plant, and even though all the necessary parties seem to be working harmoniously on the plan, the money can’t be spent.
That’s due to some sticky bureaucratic red tape: Congress needs to pass, and the president needs to sign legislation allowing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to give that $300 million check (secured under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement) to the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission.
The Water News Network is San Diego County’s source for water news and information.
