US Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) today traveled to the US International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) Wastewater Treatment Facility near the US-Calif border. and Mexico in San Diego to highlight federal efforts to address transboundary water contamination in the area. Padilla received briefings from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the IBWC on current projects aimed at reducing regional pollution. During the visit, Padilla also heard from stakeholders about the environmental and flood impacts that the Tijuana River border wall project would have on the region.
“For too long, toxic waste and raw sewage have crossed the border into Southern California, bringing health hazards and environmental threats to our own backyards,” said Senator Padilla. “This pollution continues to contaminate Southern California’s air and water, depriving communities of outdoor recreation and economic opportunity. It is critical that we leverage the federal investments we secured last year to implement a comprehensive, long-term solution to improve wastewater treatment in both San Diego County and Tijuana.”
“We are grateful for the Senator’s attention to this plant and for his support to improve cleanup efforts along the US-Mexico border. We look forward to continuing our collaboration to obtain the funds necessary to achieve the goal of reducing transboundary flows for the benefit of beaches and surrounding communities,” said Dr. Maria-Elena Giner, PE, Commissioner, IBWC, United States Section. .
“Border communities share a watershed, and solutions to reduce pollution in our shared environment require the collaboration of all levels of government,” said Martha Guzmán, EPA’s Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator. “Today we discuss the critical role of ongoing maintenance required for success on both sides of the border, especially with the addition of Customs and Border Patrol gate and bridge infrastructure.”
Senator Padilla successfully secured language in the FY 2023 appropriations package to eliminate red tape and allow EPA to turn over $300 million previously secured in the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement to the International Boundary and Water Commission for water infrastructure projects. This funding is critical to reducing transboundary water pollution in the San Diego/Tijuana region. Padilla also worked to secure $3.45 million for the Smuggler’s Gulch Dredging Project in San Diego County, which will dredge the Smuggler’s Gulch channel to clean up trash and sediment and protect downstream properties, habitats and communities, as well as such as human and environmental health in the Tijuana river basin. and coastal waters.
