$156 Million Additional Funding to Address Cross Border Water Pollution Projects Passes U.S. House of Representatives
On March 22, 2024, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill that will inject $200.85 million to the International Boundary and Water Commission’s budget, including $156 million for water quality construction projects. The new Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill was announced March 21 and swiftly came to a vote. Having passed the House of Representatives, the bill is expected to come to a vote in the Senate today. The IBWC is the federal agency tasked with operating and maintaining the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP), which is urgently in need of repair and expansion to mitigate the impacts that originate from cross-border pollution. This pollution critically impacts San Diego County’s south bay communities, including the City of Coronado.
The funding is a $103 million increase from the previous fiscal year and will facilitate repair and expansion of the plant. The bill also includes a funds transfer authority to enable IBWC to receive funds from other federal and non-federal agencies, enabling them to find other funding streams to support the critically needed improvements to the SBIWTP.
The Coronado City Council created an Ad Hoc Committee on Cross Border Water Quality on April 2, 2023. The Subcommittee members include Mayor Richard Bailey and Councilmember John Duncan. Along with Councilmember Carrie Downey, who is the City’s representative to the National League of Cities, the Councilmembers have advocated on behalf of Coronado for additional funding to effectively address infrastructure improvements needed in the U.S. and Mexico.
“The City of Coronado has tirelessly advocated for a fix to the cross-border water crisis,” said Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey. “This federal funding is critical in addressing the Tijuana River sewage crisis. We recognize the diligent efforts of our State and local officials who all successfully fought for $220.85 million in funding for the IBWC. Thank you to our Coronado residents and our City councilmembers for their steadfast attention and support of our advocacy to this public health threat.”
The City of Coronado appreciates the support and actions taken by Congressmember Scott Peters, in conjunction with the San Diego delegation in the House, and Senators Alex Padilla and Laphonza Butler, who all successfully pushed for $220.85 million in funding for the IBWC.
Over the past several months, delegations of local officials from San Diego County including Mayor Richard Bailey, Councilmember Carrie Downey, Councilmember John Duncan and Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre traveled to Washington D.C. to advocate for supplemental funds to address the pressing Tijuana River pollution crisis before Congress and the White House. The deteriorating wastewater infrastructure in Tijuana and at the IBWC’s International Wastewater Treatment Plant has led to intermittent closures in the ocean along Coronado’s coastline.
