Congressmembers push to make Tijuana River cleanup a permanent EPA project
The U.S. and Mexico reached an agreement in June 2025 to work together on a permanent solution for the sewage crisis in the Tijuana River Valley. This comes after decades of the crisis, leading to widespread pollution that closed beaches and filled the air with toxic hydrogen sulfide. The original memorandum of understanding outlined goals for both American and Mexican construction of wastewater infrastructure: Minute 328. This includes the expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant to 50 million gallons per day by the end of 2027. “Mexico is on schedule with their commitments that are made in those minutes,” said Mike Martucci, the Administrator for EPA Region 9, which includes California. Among those commitments are rehabilitating pump stations and interceptors along the Tijuana River in 2026 and upgrading their wastewater treatment plants on the Mexican side of the border in 2027.
Other Tijuana River news:
- Voice of San Diego: What the Tijuana River cleanup reveals about San Diego’s bigger challenge
- CBS8 (San Diego): New air purifier applications address Tijuana River Valley pollution
- FOX5 (San Diego): Steve Hilton discusses Tijuana River sewage crisis, gas prices and more
