San Diego County approves $8.75M to combat Tijuana River pollution crisis

The board also established a County Pollution Crisis Chief position to centralize coordination of the county's sewage crisis response.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 7:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $8.75 million to address the ongoing Tijuana River pollution crisis through health studies, infrastructure improvements, and an expanded air purifier program. The funding package includes $4.75 million for epidemiological studies and a temporary infrastructure fix at Saturn Boulevard, plus $4 million to expand an air purifier program serving South Bay residents.

Why it matters

The Tijuana River pollution crisis has disproportionately impacted low-income and vulnerable neighborhoods in the South Bay region. This funding aims to prioritize public health monitoring, infrastructure mitigation, emergency response, environmental protection, and intergovernmental advocacy to address the crisis.

The details

The $8.75 million in funding will be used for a $2.5 million temporary pipe extension project at the Saturn Boulevard hotspot to reduce turbulence and airborne pollutants, $250,000 for a retrospective health study, and $6 million for a long-term health study to follow 1,000 to 2,000 individuals. Additionally, $4 million will expand the county's air purifier program to provide up to three purifiers per household in the affected area.

  • The board approved the funding package on January 28, 2026.
  • The temporary pipe extension project at Saturn Boulevard could be implemented within two years.

The players

San Diego County Board of Supervisors

The governing body of San Diego County that unanimously approved the $8.75 million funding package to address the Tijuana River pollution crisis.

Paloma Aguirre

A San Diego County Supervisor who defended the need for additional health studies and emphasized the importance of providing free air purifiers to impacted households.

Terra Lawson-Remer

The Chair of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors who called the Tijuana River pollution crisis "the regional crisis of our time" and emphasized the need for both immediate interventions and long-term infrastructure solutions.

Jim Desmond

A San Diego County Supervisor who supported the air purifier funding but emphasized the need to maintain pressure on Mexico to fix failing infrastructure that is causing the pollution crisis.

Richard Whipple

The deputy director of the San Diego County Department of Public Works who said the temporary pipe extension project at Saturn Boulevard could be implemented within two years.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This crisis disproportionately hits our low-income and vulnerable neighborhoods. And by funding these projects, we're telling the people of South Bay that your health is a priority and that we can't wait for years for solutions to come from the federal government or from across the border.”

— Paloma Aguirre, San Diego County Supervisor (sandiegouniontribune.com)

“Standing here, we do not need any more reports to know what's at stake. We can see it, we can smell it. If your home or your work is nearby, you live it every single day.”

— Terra Lawson-Remer, Chair, San Diego County Board of Supervisors (sandiegouniontribune.com)

“This is a bandaid. It's another bandaid on a gushing, literally gushing wound. We can't let up on the pressure of Mexico to fix their failing infrastructure that's causing this entire mess.”

— Jim Desmond, San Diego County Supervisor (sandiegouniontribune.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This funding package represents an important step in addressing the long-standing Tijuana River pollution crisis, which has had significant public health and environmental impacts on vulnerable communities in the South Bay region. However, continued pressure on Mexico to fix its failing infrastructure that is the root cause of the problem will be crucial to finding a lasting solution.