Efforts to Clean Up Tijuana River Pollution in San Diego Unveiled

Tackling Longstanding Pollution in the Tijuana River

For decades, the Tijuana River has been a source of pollution that has affected surfers, swimmers, and even Navy SEALS in San Diego. A newly published report sheds light on potential solutions to this environmental issue.

Today, a collaborative report from the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Prebys Foundation outlines critical steps needed to address the pollution in the Tijuana River. Authored by Maria Elena Giner, a former U.S. International Boundary commissioner, and Doug Liden from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the report provides a comprehensive analysis of past and present challenges and sets forth a roadmap for remediation.

The report, titled “Tijuana River Contamination Crisis: A Five-Pillar Framework for Binational Solutions,” emphasizes the need for completion of wastewater plant upgrades on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border, alongside continuous funding for their operation and planning for wastewater reuse. The authors highlight that “persistent contamination of the Tijuana River and nearby Pacific coastline stems from historic chronic infrastructure failures, insufficient operations and maintenance, and fragmented binational governance.”

Spanning approximately 1,750 square miles, the Tijuana River watershed is predominantly located in Mexico but includes significant areas in the United States. While concrete channels dominate the Mexican side, the American side features natural wetlands and floodplains.

The International Boundary and Water Commission has managed the river since 1944, supported by financial inputs from the North American Free Trade Agreement, U.S. EPA Border Water Infrastructure Program, and U.S. investments in Mexican infrastructure. However, rapid population growth in Tijuana has outpaced these improvements, leading to frequent transboundary sewage spills that undermine earlier progress.

Pollution from the river has impacted nearby areas like Imperial Beach and Coronado, with health risks from waterborne pathogens such as E. coli and industrial contaminants like copper and zinc. This pollution has affected local communities, recreational users, and military personnel, exacerbated by airborne toxins such as hydrogen sulfide gas.

In Tijuana, nearly 75% of the wastewater system requires urgent attention, with population growth projected to increase by 40% by 2050. The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant on the U.S. side also suffers from deferred maintenance, with critical infrastructure failures noted in 2022.

The report calls for adherence to binational agreements, known as Minutes, to manage the river’s pollution effectively. To ensure sustainable solutions, the report recommends that the U.S. government commit to ongoing maintenance funding for the South Bay plant and suggests a tiered fee structure to encourage proper wastewater management in Mexico.

Emphasizing the need for actionable steps, the authors assert that eliminating dry-weather flows offers significant environmental benefits without exorbitant costs. Future infrastructure priorities should focus on wastewater reuse, coupled with transparent binational communication and improved monitoring and reporting.