EPA advances comprehensive US-Mexico wastewater solution

摘要

The EPA announced this month that it is initiating the environmental review process for a comprehensive binational solution to reduce cross-border wastewater pollution in the San Diego-Tijuana area. The $627 million scheme will integrate several wastewater treatment expansions and upgrades in both the US and Mexico, including a 35MGD (159,100m~3/d) expansion of the existing 25MGD (113,700m~3/d) South Bay International wastewater treatment plant (ITP); (see map below). The EPA was previously appropriated $300 million in 2020 under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to address cross-border pollution. While the capital cost of the proposed scheme far exceeds this appropriation, Doug Eberhardt, water infrastructure manager at EPA Region 9, explained to GWI that the agency expects to pursue cost-sharing arrangements with Mexico on specific projects.