San Diego County supervisors have voted to advance a plan for a new sewage treatment system on the U.S. side of the border, aiming to mitigate the ongoing pollution crisis stemming from the Tijuana River.
The county will allocate $1.8 million over the next 18 months to study potential treatment systems, a move intended to stop contaminated water from flowing into San Diego communities and beaches. Supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Terra Lawson-Remer spearheaded the initiative, emphasizing the need for decisive action independent of Mexico's timeline for addressing the issue.
"We'll keep working with Washington and Mexico, but we will set the pace and we won't wait on anyone else's timeline," Aguirre stated following the vote.
The Tijuana River regularly carries millions of gallons of sewage-contaminated water across the border, polluting the river and ultimately reaching the Pacific Ocean. This pollution has led to beach closures extending as far north as Coronado. In addition to being an aesthetic issue, researchers have found that sewage-related contaminants can become airborne, with hydrogen sulfide levels recorded at significantly elevated concentrations in affected areas. To help residents cope with odors and potential exposure, county officials have provided eligible households with free air purifiers.
Supervisors noted that existing treatment and diversion infrastructure has been insufficient to capture all pollutants. "After 60 years, that is the gap that has no solution: the U.S. side of the Tijuana River is not treated at all," Aguirre and Lawson-Remer wrote in a letter to the board. "Once sewage and toxic runoff are in the river, nothing protects our coastlines and communities from the impacts."
Supervisor Joel Anderson cast the sole dissenting vote, expressing concern that the project could escalate into a multibillion-dollar undertaking beyond the county's financial capacity and potentially its responsibility. Supervisor Jim Desmond echoed the sentiment that Mexico should ultimately resolve the problem but supported planning for worst-case scenarios.
Aguirre, whose district includes communities directly affected by the pollution, acknowledged the long-standing nature of the problem and the earned skepticism of her constituents. Lawson-Remer described the situation as an "environmental injustice" that requires a resolution.
This phased approach aims to establish an additional layer of defense against the transboundary pollution, addressing a gap in current mitigation efforts.