Governor Gavin Newsom announced a $46 million investment to tackle the ongoing pollution in the Tijuana River at the California-Mexico border. The funding, drawn from a voter-approved bond, aims to clean a river contaminated by raw sewage loaded with industrial chemicals and waste. Since 2018, the river has been overwhelmed by more than 100 billion gallons of sewage, according to data from the International Boundary and Water Commission.
An agreement between the United States and Mexico was reached last year. It focuses on upgrading wastewater treatment facilities to manage Tijuana’s expanding population and industrial discharge. Many of the factories involved are owned by U.S. companies. The pollution has affected large numbers of residents, predominantly from low-income Latino communities.
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin highlighted during a February visit to San Diego that it could take years to remedy this significant environmental issue. The effort involves reducing bacteria and litter, addressing public health problems from cross-border pollution, and promoting mitigation and restoration projects.
The severe sewage pollution not only impacts the Pacific Ocean but also releases hydrogen sulfide, a harmful gas triggering symptoms like headaches, nausea, and respiratory difficulties. Long-term health issues from exposure are still being studied, reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People in San Diego County shouldn’t have to worry about getting sick, losing access to their beaches, and living with polluted air,” said Newsom.
The funds will be accessible as competitive grants and are derived from Proposition 4, a $10 billion bond measure for water, climate, wildfire, and natural resource projects approved in 2024. At least 40% of this allocation targets communities severely impacted by climate change and ecological pollution.
Phillip Musegaas, executive director of the environmental nonprofit San Diego Coastkeeper, underscored the importance of these funds. “This funding is desperately needed,” he said. However, he stressed that more federal support is essential to overhaul and expand the inadequate wastewater infrastructure.
Governor Newsom emphasized the necessity for federal cooperation, particularly from the Trump administration, to secure lasting solutions. He stressed that California alone cannot rectify a long-standing federal inadequacy and urged federal commitment to resolving this environmental crisis.
For more environmental news, you can visit AP’s environmental coverage.