Cross Border Water Pollution

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Why Ocean Waters in the South Bay Are Intermittently Closed

Many parts of Tijuana’s wastewater infrastructure are decades old, have inadequate capacity to treat and convey wastewater and suffer from repeated breaks and system failures. During and after significant rain events and wastewater system breaks in Mexico, untreated water can flow northward carrying contaminants into U.S. waters off San Diego.

From late December 2022 through May 2023, unusually heavy and frequent rain events created significant flows down the Tijuana River that propelled much higher-than-normal volumes of contaminants into the ocean environment. This resulted in greater number of ocean closures, warnings and advisories from Imperial Beach to Coronado than is typically experienced this time of year. As of late May 2023, Tijuana River flows have returned to a seasonal normal of zero to low flows. This will allow the reconstruction of pollution-preventing measures such as a sediment berm in the river channel.

In May of 2022, San Diego County also introduced a first-in-the-nation ocean water quality testing protocol which has yielded more closures than under prior testing protocols. On Coronado, water samples are taken daily. When samples approach or exceed the test’s threshold, an ocean advisory, warning or closure is designated, and signs are posted on the beach. San Diego County water quality results are published online as conditions change and are available on the San Diego County Beach & Bay Water Quality website, along with information on the ocean advisory, warning and closure levels.


Coronado's Plan for Addressing Water Pollution Coming From Mexico

The City of Coronado has been tirelessly advocating for wastewater treatment solutions since 2016, along with other regional partners. As a result, in 2022 the federal government allocated $330 million to mitigate the problem, with the Mexican government contributing another $144 million.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) have planned several projects in San Diego and Tijuana to address cross border water pollution which include:

  1. expanding the capacity of the existing sewage treatment plant on the U.S. side of the border;
  2. replacing the San Antonio de las Buenas treatment plant that discharges untreated sewage at Punta Bandera in Mexico;
  3. building an additional treatment plant on the US side of the border to treat river flows;
  4. installing a trash boom in the river on the US side of the border; and
  5. additional repairs to the sewage collection system in Mexico.

These projects will help improve water quality for our local communities but will take time to design and construct.


Timeline for Current Improvements

With this funding, projects are expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2027 that would result in a 50% reduction in the number of days of transboundary wastewater flow in the Tijuana River and an 80% reduction in the volume of untreated wastewater discharged to the Pacific Ocean six miles south of the border.

• July 2023 – IBWC producing estimates for work and releasing bids, with contracts in place by fall.

• Early 2024 – IBWC designs complete and construction breaks ground on infrastructure improvements.

• Mexico has not yet released timelines for construction using their allocated funding.

For a map of the related infrastructure improvements, please visit the EPA’s website.


Next Steps to Make Sure Our Local Waters are Open for Recreation:

The City of Coronado continues collaboration at the local, state and federal levels to protect our water resources. While much has been done to dedicate necessary resources, ongoing attention and advocacy is needed to ensure these projects advance and complete as quickly as possible. It is estimated that an additional $300 million beyond the currently allocated $470 million is needed to fund all of the infrastructure improvements on both sides of the border.

On April 3, 2023 the Coronado City Council voted to create dedicated Council Subcommittee on Cross Border Water Pollution to continue to the City’s focus on legislative advocacy and aggressively pursuing solutions with regional partners. The City of Coronado encourages you to remain informed and sign up for e-updates online as more information becomes available on funding and the status of projects here.


How to Support Collaborative Efforts to Improve Water Quality in South Bay

If you would like to get involved, please reach out to the EPA Region 9 Office and your local U.S. Senator and Congressmember to voice your concerns. Encourage your representatives to continue to support additional funding for wastewater treatment facilities along the U.S./Mexico border and to support efforts to expedite the IBWC group of improvement projects that have already been funded and are underway.

Together, we can ensure clean water for all who use South County’s bays and beaches.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Why Ocean Waters in the South Bay Are Intermittently Closed

Many parts of Tijuana’s wastewater infrastructure are decades old, have inadequate capacity to treat and convey wastewater and suffer from repeated breaks and system failures. During and after significant rain events and wastewater system breaks in Mexico, untreated water can flow northward carrying contaminants into U.S. waters off San Diego.

From late December 2022 through May 2023, unusually heavy and frequent rain events created significant flows down the Tijuana River that propelled much higher-than-normal volumes of contaminants into the ocean environment. This resulted in greater number of ocean closures, warnings and advisories from Imperial Beach to Coronado than is typically experienced this time of year. As of late May 2023, Tijuana River flows have returned to a seasonal normal of zero to low flows. This will allow the reconstruction of pollution-preventing measures such as a sediment berm in the river channel.

In May of 2022, San Diego County also introduced a first-in-the-nation ocean water quality testing protocol which has yielded more closures than under prior testing protocols. On Coronado, water samples are taken daily. When samples approach or exceed the test’s threshold, an ocean advisory, warning or closure is designated, and signs are posted on the beach. San Diego County water quality results are published online as conditions change and are available on the San Diego County Beach & Bay Water Quality website, along with information on the ocean advisory, warning and closure levels.


Coronado's Plan for Addressing Water Pollution Coming From Mexico

The City of Coronado has been tirelessly advocating for wastewater treatment solutions since 2016, along with other regional partners. As a result, in 2022 the federal government allocated $330 million to mitigate the problem, with the Mexican government contributing another $144 million.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) have planned several projects in San Diego and Tijuana to address cross border water pollution which include:

  1. expanding the capacity of the existing sewage treatment plant on the U.S. side of the border;
  2. replacing the San Antonio de las Buenas treatment plant that discharges untreated sewage at Punta Bandera in Mexico;
  3. building an additional treatment plant on the US side of the border to treat river flows;
  4. installing a trash boom in the river on the US side of the border; and
  5. additional repairs to the sewage collection system in Mexico.

These projects will help improve water quality for our local communities but will take time to design and construct.


Timeline for Current Improvements

With this funding, projects are expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2027 that would result in a 50% reduction in the number of days of transboundary wastewater flow in the Tijuana River and an 80% reduction in the volume of untreated wastewater discharged to the Pacific Ocean six miles south of the border.

• July 2023 – IBWC producing estimates for work and releasing bids, with contracts in place by fall.

• Early 2024 – IBWC designs complete and construction breaks ground on infrastructure improvements.

• Mexico has not yet released timelines for construction using their allocated funding.

For a map of the related infrastructure improvements, please visit the EPA’s website.


Next Steps to Make Sure Our Local Waters are Open for Recreation:

The City of Coronado continues collaboration at the local, state and federal levels to protect our water resources. While much has been done to dedicate necessary resources, ongoing attention and advocacy is needed to ensure these projects advance and complete as quickly as possible. It is estimated that an additional $300 million beyond the currently allocated $470 million is needed to fund all of the infrastructure improvements on both sides of the border.

On April 3, 2023 the Coronado City Council voted to create dedicated Council Subcommittee on Cross Border Water Pollution to continue to the City’s focus on legislative advocacy and aggressively pursuing solutions with regional partners. The City of Coronado encourages you to remain informed and sign up for e-updates online as more information becomes available on funding and the status of projects here.


How to Support Collaborative Efforts to Improve Water Quality in South Bay

If you would like to get involved, please reach out to the EPA Region 9 Office and your local U.S. Senator and Congressmember to voice your concerns. Encourage your representatives to continue to support additional funding for wastewater treatment facilities along the U.S./Mexico border and to support efforts to expedite the IBWC group of improvement projects that have already been funded and are underway.

Together, we can ensure clean water for all who use South County’s bays and beaches.

  • IBWC July 12 Citizen Forum Meeting Presentations

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    The USIBWC Citizens Forum (CF) was established in 2002 to facilitate the exchange of information between the USIBWC and members of the public about Commission activities in San Diego County. The CF is intended to bring together community members enabling the early and continued two-way flow of information, concerns, values, and needs between the USIBWC and the general public, environmentalists, government agencies, municipalities, and other interested parties.

    July 12, 2023 Meeting Presentations:
    San Diego Update Presentation – Morgan Rogers
    Tijuana River Channel Trash Booms Project

  • County Board of Supervisors Request for Emergency Declaration

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    At its June 27, 2023 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to declare a County-wide state of emergency for the U.S.-Mexico Transboundary Pollution Environmental Crisis and a request for a Federal State of Emergency. The goal is to expedite funding and construction of projects.

    As the goal of the Board item is consistent with the Coronado City Council's goals for full appropriation of funding and accelerated completion of the projects, the City of Coronado submitted a letter of support for the item.

  • IBWC Citizens Forum Meeting & Coronado Appointment

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    On June 12, 2023, Councilmember John Duncan was notified of his appointment to the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) Citizen Forum, a citizen advisory board (appointment letter). The IBCW Citizens Forum was established in 2002 to facilitate the exchange of information between the U.S. IBWC and members of the public about Commission activities in San Diego County. The Citizens Forum is intended to bring together community members enabling the early and continued two-way flow of information, concerns, values and needs between the IBWC and government, interested parties and the public. Councilmember Duncan will be advocating for the interests of Coronado and all South Bay cities to most expeditiously construct the needed infrastructure improvements by the Federal and Mexican governments, obtain needed future funding (remaining capital and operations and maintenance), and promote transparency of information. The next Citizens Forum meeting is July 12, 2023.

  • Emergency Declaration Letter to White House

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    On June 13, 2023, Mayor Richard Bailey joined the San Diego area mayors to send a request to the President of the United States for a Federal State of Emergency declaration to proactively address the Transboundary Pollution crisis.

  • Cross Border Water Pollution Subcommittee Actions

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    Cross Border Water Pollution Subcommittee Actions

    The Subcommittee (Mayor Richard Bailey and Councilmember John Duncan, City Manager Tina Friend and Assistant City Manager Tony Winney, and the City's BBK advocate) meet monthly to coordinate advocacy efforts on the local, state and federal level. Current efforts include:

    • Scheduling ongoing meetings with Coronado’s Federal delegation to urge expedited construction of the current suite of $300 million of improvements on both sides of the border, and to appropriate future Federal funding to complete the remaining projects (~$300 million)
    • Encouraging the Federal government to determine and hold accountable the Mexican government's timeline to build its projects (particularly the Punta Bandera treatment plant rehabilitation) with its $144 million in committed funding
    • Advocating for consistent and ongoing funding of the EPA Border Water Infrastructure Grant Program (BWIP) for maintenance and operations for the IBWC treatment plant and pollution prevention infrastructure at the border
    • Expanding coordination with local jurisdictions for a cohesive advocacy and information sharing
Page last updated: 22 Sep 2023, 10:31 AM