EPA Announces New Agreement Between US and Mexico To End The Tijuana River Sewage Crisis

On Monday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a new agreement between the United States and Mexico, called Minute 333, which outlines a list of new actions to end the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis.

In a press release, the EPA stated:

The U.S. and Mexican Sections of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) agreed to a list of new actions, including infrastructure projects, research, enhanced monitoring, and planning for operation and maintenance of critical sites and systems that will account for future population growth in Tijuana, a key component that was missing from previous agreements made prior to the Trump Administration

The Tijuana River Sewage Crisis is a decades-long issue where untreated raw sewage has flowed into Southern California from Mexico. This has resulted in years-long beach closures, foul odors, degradation of the Tijuana River Valley, and lost economic opportunity, while also sickening people on both sides of the border. This crisis has also impacted our Navy SEALs who train in the area.

Minute 333 will account for future population growth in Tijuana, build critical Mexico-side infrastructure projects that weren’t previously agreed-upon, ensure Mexico does its part to properly operate and maintain existing and new facilities, enhance technical information sharing, promote industry best practices for wastewater and stormwater management in Mexico to be consistent with the United States, and strengthen communications with counterparts and the public.

In April, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin made a visit to San Diego to address the years-long issue. Also in April, Supervisor Desmond sent letters to U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanding intervention.

The Globe reported in September that San Diego County Supervisor Jim Desmond has played a major role in bringing this crisis to a national level and putting it on the radar of the federal government.

Supervisor Desmond reports that “in just 100 days, the Federal Government, the EPA, and the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission delivered a 10 million-gallon-per-day expansion at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant—a project once expected to take years.”

“Here’s a video I took about four months ago showing just how dire this crisis was at the time,” Supervisor Desmond said. It’s a stark reminder of what we’ve been up against—and why this progress matters so much.”

In the video, Desmond refers to the decades-long issue as an “environmental catastrophe.”

WATCH:

After yesterday’s announcement, Desmond stated, “I want to commend the federal government and Administrator Zeldin for continuing to prioritize the Tijuana sewage crisis. This is another important step forward in addressing a decades-long problem that has severely impacted our region. For far too long, our communities, beaches, public health, and environment have paid the price. Sustained federal leadership and accountability are critical, and I’m encouraged to see this issue remain a top priority.”

Some of the top agreed upon actions in Minute 333 include:

• The creation of an operations and maintenance (O&M) account at the North America Development Bank (NADBank) which would set aside a portion of any future dollars provided to Mexico to be held for future O&M costs, with recommendations due within 12 months of signing.
• Mexico will develop a Tijuana water infrastructure master plan within 6 months.
• A Minute 333 binational working group will be created within three months to assess the feasibility of constructing an ocean outfall for the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant (SABWWTP), along with assessing the technical and financial feasibility of expanding SABWWTP from 18.26 million gallons per day (MGD) to 43.37 MGD.
• Mexico will construct a sediment basin in Matadero Canyon (Smuggler’s Gulch), which is located near the international boundary, prior to the 2026-2027 rainy season.
• Mexico will construct the Tecolote-La Gloria Wastewater Treatment Plant with a capacity of 3 MGD by December 2028.

“Great progress has been made this year to achieve the 100% solution to the Tijuana River sewage crisis, but it would have all been for nothing if we don’t take the appropriate steps to account for the inevitable population growth of Tijuana and surrounding areas. That’s what Minute 333 achieves. We have set the framework for tremendous steps to be made, and we now look forward to very quickly hitting the ground running to implement the mutually agreed upon actions. I saw the frustration of San Diego area residents firsthand when I visited in April. I promised them a 100% solution to this issue, and the Trump EPA is doing its part to deliver,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.

“Under the leadership of President Trump and working closely with EPA, the USIBWC has been focused on a 100%, permanent solution to finally end the exposure of Americans to Mexican sewage in Southern California. This new Minute, along with the significant improvements we have made at our San Diego plant and Mexico’s commitment to finish their projects ahead of schedule, will improve the health and safety of Americans,” said USIBWC Commissioner Chad McIntosh.

Additional quotes from California elected officials are listed below.

Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA-48): “From day one, Administrator Zeldin and his team took on challenges that have been ignored for years or others concluded couldn’t be solved. The difference this leadership makes is made real by the remarkable progress in dealing with the Tijuana sewage crisis, rejecting a stale status quo, and advancing a durable solution that is built to last.”

Representative Scott Peters (D-CA-50): “The San Diego congressional delegation has worked to fix the very serious health danger of toxic wastewater flowing across the U.S.-Mexico border for years and we have secured hundreds of millions of dollars to fix and expand the aging plant. But Congress cannot do this alone; I am extremely grateful to Administrator Zeldin for his steadfast dedication to a 100 percent solution that upholds U.S. obligations and, most importantly, commits Mexico to build, maintain and fund the projects it must have to protect its people now, as well as future population growth. I very much value our partnership with Mexico, and my partnership with the Administration to solve this crisis for San Diegans.”

Representative Mike Levin (D-CA-49): “I am pleased to see that we are moving forward on a new United States-Mexico agreement that will make progress on addressing this public health crisis. For far too long under both Democratic and Republican administrations, progress has been unacceptably slow, and this is a step in the right direction. Since I first arrived in Congress, addressing cross-border pollution has been a top priority of mine, I was proud to help secure over $300 million to address it under the 2020 USMCA, and grateful our delegation has secured hundreds of millions since. I am glad to see that we are building on those investments with infrastructure and funding commitments from Mexico, and I look forward to seeing this money be put to use to upgrade critical infrastructure to help our communities as quickly as possible. I will not stop until this public health crisis is fully addressed.”

California State Assemblyman Carl DeMaio: “For decades, San Diego families have paid the price for Mexico dumping sewage and trash into our communities. Under President Trump and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the federal government is finally demanding accountability, speeding up action on the Mexican side of the border, and putting an end to the excuses. This is the kind of enforcement-first leadership San Diego has been waiting for.”

Coronado Mayor John Duncan: “A city greatly impacted by the millions of gallons of Tijuana Sewage flowing across our border, I am extremely grateful for the focus of the current Administration on expediting additional infrastructure and treatment on both sides of the border.  Coronado is extremely important to our nation’s defense.  The military bases here are home to the US Navy SEALs, three nuclear powered aircraft carriers and tens of thousands of Navy sailors and pilots. Thank you to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, IBWC Commissioner Chad McIntosh and the State Department for negotiating and documenting solutions with Mexico via this new Minute Order, Minute 333.”

Vista Mayor John Franklin: “President Trump and Administrator Zeldin are making big progress in solving the Tijuana sewage crisis. In his first administration President Trump secured $300 million in the USMCA Agreement for the expansion and upgrade of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP). Money alone isn’t enough however. President Trump and Administrator Zeldin’s leadership in the early months of his second administration is leveraging the IBWC with the new leadership of Chad McIntosh and putting maximum pressure on our Mexican partners to do their part and honor the more than $650 million in total U.S. investment to solve a problem that severely and negatively affects the people of San Diego County. Competent management, creation of efficient timelines and oversight were the missing ingredients and now we are seeing progress because of the leadership of President Trump and Administrator Zeldin.”

California Senate Republican Leader Brian Jones: “The ongoing sewage crisis in the Tijuana River Valley is a longstanding issue that has affected communities across San Diego County and my district for decades. Its impacts on public health and the environment remain a serious concern and will require continued attention in the years to come. I was on the ground in the area as recently as last week and I can tell you firsthand this crisis requires immediate, ongoing and decisive action.”

San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones: “As a San Diego County native, I have seen this problem only get more and more serious, affecting the health of local residents and hurting our environment. Like many tough issues, it takes collaboration and a commitment to take action. Today is a solid step forward toward finally working together for a permanent solution.”

Imperial Beach Mayor Mitchell D. McKay: “The City of Imperial Beach wishes to express its renewed sense of cautious optimism in this critical & formal step forward – the memorializing of the previous MOU into an official Treaty minute – Minute 333.  We appreciate the current Administration’s EPA and IBWC timely efforts to move the needle forward on this issue of paramount importance.  This strategic legal contract between the governments of Mexico and the United States contains measurable progress of necessary infrastructure projects – on both sides of the border – moving us closer toward a final 100% Solution for our region’s long-standing Transboundary Sewage Crisis. We look forward to significant progress in the near term and future days when our precious beaches will once again be open for our residents, businesses and visitors to enjoy.”

El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells: “I’d like to extend my heartfelt thanks to President Trump and EPA Administrator Zeldin for the timely and meaningful progress they have made in addressing the Tijuana sewage crisis. It is refreshing to see government working as it should. The City of El Cajon and the greater San Diego County region are grateful.”

San Diego County Supervisor of District 2 Joel Anderson: “I’m grateful to the Trump Administration and EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin for making this issue a priority. Administrator Zeldin’s detailed and direct approach included hard deadlines, separating it from previous Administrations. We thank President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for their continued focus and proactive work on an issue that has negatively impacted the San Diego region for decades.”