An investment of over 15 billion pesos will be allocated to address cross-border wastewater flows that have plagued Tijuana and San Diego for decades.
Víctor Daniel Amador Barragán, Baja California’s Secretary of Water Management, Sanitation, and Protection, highlighted the news during Governor Marina del Pilar Ávila Olmeda’s weekly press conference.
Amador Barragán presented updates on Minute 328 of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) regarding the Binational Tijuana River Sanitation Agreement. Signed in July 2022, this agreement represents the largest allocation of resources in 40 years to tackle the environmental issue.
“This is an unprecedented effort between the governments of Mexico and the United States to address this environmental crisis at its root,” he emphasized.
According to official data, the total binational investment amounts to around $15 billion pesos, with $12.373 billion coming from the U.S. government and $2.762 billion from the Mexican government. These funds will be distributed across 17 key projects aimed at modernizing and expanding sanitation infrastructure.
Details Regarding Funding of Minute 328: Tijuana River Sanitation
The United States, through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and joint projects, will focus its investment on:
- Expanding the International Wastewater Treatment Plant (PITAR).
- Rehabilitating Plant PB1, with an investment exceeding $268 million.
- Building floodgates along the Tijuana River and a redundant energy system to prevent spills during power failures.
Meanwhile, Mexico will allocate its resources to:
- Rehabilitating water pipes and outfalls.
- Modernizing treatment plants, including San Antonio de los Buenos, Matadero, Laureles I, and II.
- Joint projects with the U.S., including floodgate installations and electrical systems.
Key Projects to Address the Water Crisis
To meet the infrastructure commitments outlined in Minute 328 and secure funding, a three-stage annual plan was implemented, prioritizing projects by urgency with an intended completion date of 2027.
Amador reported that several projects are already underway or completed, such as the San Antonio de los Buenos treatment plant rehabilitation, which will process 800 liters per second. The project has been fully executed and is now in the stabilization phase, ensuring compliance with water treatment quality standards.
“This is all part of Tijuana’s comprehensive sanitation plan—from collection to treatment and water reuse. We’re covering the entire city. This isn’t just remediation; it’s transformation,” Amador stated.
He also highlighted the 100% operational status of the IBWC pumping plant to prevent ocean spills, as well as the replacement of over 5 kilometers of pipes and the construction of 52 inspection wells in the international water pipe with support from SEDENA.
Lastly, it was revealed that the Rosarito Desalination Plant, with an initial capacity of 2,200 liters per second, will provide drinking water to 2.2 million residents in Tijuana, Rosarito, and Ensenada.
VIDEO: Governors Marina del Pilar and Gavin Newsom Inspect Wastewater Treatment Plant in Tijuana
