The Environmental Protection Agency and International Boundary and Water Commission on Tuesday announced the fast-track expansion of the International Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Tijuana River Valley. The facility has been in a state of disrepair for years and had been undergoing a remodel to double its capacity at a cost of more than $600 million, the work was slated to take several years to complete. But according to the EPA and the IBWC, the construction will now be done in 100 days, expanding capacity from 25 million gallons to 35 million per day. “It’s something we’ve been asking for a long time,” said Paloma Aguirre, mayor of Imperial Beach, the American city most affected by the sewage and pollution that comes in from Mexico on a daily basis. The contamination has forced the city’s beaches to be closed for more than 1,000 consecutive days.

Other Tijuana River news:

• Wastewater Digest: USIBWC and EPA launch fast-track expansion to address Tijuana River pollution
• Times of San Diego: County to work with Navy to rehab part of Tijuana River Valley Regional Park