U.S., Mexico sign deal to end decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis
(UI) — The United States and Mexico have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at permanently ending the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis, which has long polluted Southern California’s Tijuana River Valley and impacted communities on both sides of the border.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Mexican Environment Secretary Alicia Bárcena Ibarra formalized the agreement during a meeting of the Council of the Commission for Environmental Cooperation. The agreement is designed to accelerate timelines for critical infrastructure projects and address long-standing contamination issues that have closed beaches, fouled the air and threatened public health for decades.
“The Trump Administration is proud to deliver this massive environmental and national security win for Americans in the San Diego area who have been living with this disgusting raw sewage flowing into their communities for far too long,” Zeldin said.
The MOU achieves three major objectives, including Mexico’s commitment to obligate $93 million in remaining funds under Minute 328, an accelerated project schedule, and the addition of new projects to account for future population growth and maintenance costs.
Infrastructure commitments and timelines
The agreement calls for completing all remaining projects under Minute 328 by Dec. 31, 2027 — four years earlier than initially planned. Mexico will begin construction this year on two key projects: diverting 10 million gallons per day of treated effluent from entering the Tijuana River and rehabilitating the Parallel Gravity Line.
To support the work, the U.S. will release EPA Border Water Infrastructure Program funding to rehabilitate Pump Station 1 and collection pipes. Additionally, the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant will expand capacity from 25 to 35 million gallons per day by Aug. 28, 2025 — just 100 days from start to finish.
A new Minute agreement between the two nations, expected by the end of 2025, will outline at least a dozen additional actions to ensure the sewage crisis is resolved for the long term. Both countries will review project timelines within 100 days to ensure the fastest possible completion.
Background and next steps
The Tijuana River has long been a flashpoint for cross-border environmental concerns. Untreated sewage from Mexico routinely flows into Southern California, triggering beach closures and damaging the region’s economy. Zeldin toured the area in April, meeting with local officials and Navy personnel to assess the problem firsthand.
The new agreement reflects years of binational negotiations to bring lasting solutions to the crisis. Federal officials say the plan accounts for population growth and ongoing maintenance needs to ensure the fixes are durable and future-proof.
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