Governor helps safe $250 million to assist repair the Tijuana River sewage disaster

Gov. Gavin Newsom introduced Monday that the state has secured tens of millions of {dollars} in further funds to deal with the continuing sewage disaster within the Tijuana River that has polluted the coast in San Diego County.

The governor stated President Biden signed a federal funding invoice allocating $250 million to restore and increase San Diego’s present wastewater remedy plant, one in all two services that lack the capability to deal with billions of gallons of sewage and industrial wastewater flowing from the Tijuana River. . .

This has resulted in untreated sewage flowing into California’s coastal waters Environmental, well being and financial issues For residents dwelling on each side of the US-Mexico border.

Newsom stated the cash will assist restore and increase the South Bay Worldwide Wastewater Remedy Plant, a undertaking already underway however will take 5 years to finish.

Earlier this yr, Mexico additionally began working On a brand new $33 million wastewater plant to switch the troubled San Antonio de los Buenos facility in Baja, which officers say is releasing tens of millions of gallons of untreated sewage day by day into the Pacific Ocean, inflicting seashores within the space to be closed and the air to be unhealthy. . High quality because of stagnant sewage and contaminated and decomposed natural matter.

Imperial Seashore officers stated the stench and polluted seashores have triggered tourism to drop from 2.1 million guests in 2018 to fewer than 700,000 in 2023. Final month, the Chula Vista Metropolis Council issued a Native emergency Due to the disaster.

California Coastal Fee stated Wastewater remedy infrastructure on each side of the border has deteriorated and is unable to gather and deal with the roughly 35 billion to 70 billion gallons of sewage and sewage that yearly flows from town of Tijuana.

Native, state and federal officers say upkeep deferrals, divestment and mismanagement have additionally contributed to poor circumstances on the services.

“For too lengthy, communities within the Tijuana River Valley have borne the brunt of the transboundary air pollution disaster,” Newsom stated in a written assertion. “Immediately’s funding represents a long-term turning level – we’re offering the sources wanted to guard public well being, restore our seashores, and provides residents the clear air and water they deserve.”

Thus far, $703 million in federal funding has been allotted to deal with the decades-long disaster, based on the governor’s workplace. Final yr, the EPA obtained about $350 million to fund enhancements to the San Diego wastewater plant.

In October, San Diego County stated it might buy and distribute $2.7 million price of air purifiers to residents, which the state would reimburse.

Since 2019, California has additionally allotted $35 million in state funding to deal with air pollution within the Tijuana River Valley, together with six cleanup and restoration tasks.