Latest Updates
Stay informed with the latest facts on the San Diego sewage crisis
News
CESPT removes more than 4,000 cubic meters of waste from Tijuana’s drainage system
Tijuana’s state water utility reported removing more than 4,143 cubic meters of dirt, sand, mud and trash from the city’s sumps, pipes and collectors between January and August, including at Pump Station 1, as it prepares for the rainy season.
Report: San Diego County misses out on up to $500M each year due to Tijuana River pollution
A preliminary county study estimates the Tijuana River pollution crisis costs San Diego County between $125 million and $500 million a year in lost visitor spending, and up to $7.9 billion over 20 years if it continues.
County supervisors launch plan for a new U.S. treatment plant to treat Tijuana’s sewage
San Diego County supervisors approved $1.8 million to study a new U.S.-side plant, separate from the South Bay plant, to capture and treat Tijuana sewage in the river, plus $4 million for design work at the Saturn Boulevard hydrogen sulfide hotspot.
Report: Tijuana River is chronically polluted with sewage, chemicals
San Diego Coastkeeper’s latest monitoring found E. coli in the watershed often reaching 30,000 times the federal freshwater standard, and identified industrial facilities in Mexico, including maquiladoras, among the main sources of pollution. The report calls on governments at every level, including Mexico, to act against industrial polluters in Tijuana.
Baja California Judge Orders Measures for the Restoration of the Tijuana River
A federal judge in Baja California ordered Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and its federal environmental enforcement agency (PROFEPA) to take effective measures to clean up the Tijuana River channel, after a resident sued over the agencies’ failure to act.
Mexico-EPA Coordination to Build a Tijuana River Pumping Plant and Floodgates
SEMARNAT reported that the U.S. EPA released joint border water infrastructure funds to begin the Pump Station 1 and Tijuana River Gates projects, with the funding tied to Mexico’s progress on its commitments under the bilateral MOU.
EPA Releases Quarterly Update on Implementation of 100% Solution to Permanently End the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
EPA’s quarterly update reported that Mexico has surpassed its 2026 funding commitment, and that the South Bay plant treated more than 40 million gallons a day during May’s pipeline collapses in Tijuana to keep the flows from reaching San Diego residents.
Two weeks after emergency repairs, Tijuana wastewater line collapses again
After Tijuana’s Parallel Gravity Line collapsed for the second time in two weeks, U.S. IBWC Commissioner Chad McIntosh pressed Mexico for round-the-clock repairs, and the South Bay plant kept operating normally.
Fixes for the Tijuana sewage crisis are focused downstream, in San Diego. The real problem is upstream, in Tijuana
Times of San Diego reported that decades of U.S. spending at the border have not stopped the pollution because the problem starts upstream, where sewage escapes Tijuana’s leaky, overburdened system and flows downhill into the United States.
Critical upgrades to Tijuana’s wastewater system to begin
Mexico broke ground on upgrades to Tijuana pump stations whose failures have sent sewage around a border drain and into the Tijuana River.
Mexico reluctant to follow through and fix sewage problem, environmentalist says
Environmental advocates are concerned Mexico is not fully following through on commitments to address sewage flows, potentially delaying progress on resolving the crisis.
[Tijuana] Congressman points to the State as responsible for beach pollution
A Baja California legislator stated that state-run water agencies are responsible for 97% of beach pollution due to failures in wastewater treatment infrastructure.
Cespt director highlights binational sanitation agenda in the Tijuana River region
The head of CESPT highlighted ongoing binational coordination and infrastructure projects in progress and aimed at improving sanitation and reducing wastewater flows into the Tijuana River region.
San Diego chamber releases binational roadmap for Tijuana River sewage crisis
The Union-Tribune reported that the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce released a binational roadmap outlining policy, funding and infrastructure solutions to address the Tijuana River sewage crisis.
Tijuana River Contamination Crisis: A Five-Pillar Framework for Binational Solutions
The Chamber’s report outlines a comprehensive set of binational recommendations, including infrastructure investment and policy coordination, to address the ongoing Tijuana River contamination crisis.
Federal Officials Discuss Ongoing Border Sewage Crisis
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, was joined by local, state and federal leaders to update the public regarding ongoing binational coordination to ensure Mexico is building infrastructure to solve the sewage crisis.
Action Taken To Reduce Toxic Airborne Emissions At The Saturn Blvd Hotspot
San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved new funding to address the sewage crisis, including $2.5 million for a critical pipe extension to address the Saturn Boulevard hotspot.
EPA Unveils Tougher U.S.-Mexico Pact to End Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
Times of San Diego reported that the EPA announced a strengthened binational agreement aimed at reducing and eventually eliminating sewage flows in the Tijuana River.
County Supervisor Aguirre Speaks Out On Sewage Pollution
“…the culprit has never been the plant…until we treat the river, we’ll notice no difference,” said Supervisor Aguirre.
Wastewater flowing from Tijuana to San Diego will decrease by 80% by 2027: CESPT
Officials in Mexico expect wastewater flows impacting the Tijuana-San Diego region to decrease 80% by 2027 as infrastructure projects are completed.
In California, There’s One Import That Nobody Wants
Large amounts of untreated sewage flow daily from Mexico into Imperial Beach, Calif. That has closed beaches and sickened residents.
Mexican Sewage Is Flowing Into US
Newsweek reported that sewage from Mexico has flowed into the U.S. years, closing beaches, sickening residents and causing environmental concerns.
U.S. "out of patience" with Mexico, EPA chief says during San Diego visit to address Tijuana sewage crisis
The head of the Environmental Protection Agency said during a visit to San Diego Tuesday that Mexico must stop the flow of billions of gallons of sewage and chemicals from Tijuana.
Naval Special Warfare Command Should Relocate, Reschedule, or Cancel Navy Sea, Air, and Land (SEAL) Candidate Water Training When Water Bacteria Levels Exceed State Safety Standards
The DoD Inspector General found that ongoing sewage flows from the Tijuana River are impacting military readiness and personnel health, with gaps in coordination and response efforts.