The U.S. government has approved $250 million to expand the South Bay International Water Treatment Plant in San Diego, addressing pollution from the Tijuana River. The expansion will double the plant’s capacity to 50 million gallons per day and help treat wastewater flowing from Tijuana, which has been polluting Imperial Beach and the surrounding area for years.
In addition, Baja California is upgrading Tijuana’s wastewater treatment plant through a $500 million binational project funded by the North American Development Bank.
California also launched a $4.7 million project to install a 450-foot trash boom in the Tijuana River to stop waste from reaching the ocean. This initiative, set to run through 2027, complements the wastewater treatment plant expansion.
Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the state’s commitment to addressing the Tijuana River crisis, while project director Oscar Romo highlighted the adaptive design of the trash boom, which will adjust to changes in the river’s landscape. These efforts together aim to reduce pollution on both sides of the border.
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