San Diego Sees Momentum on Tijuana River Cleanup

New treatment upgrades and cross-border agreements aim to curb decades of pollution, but long-term success will hinge on maintenance and follow-through.

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is rolling out a permanent fix to the long-running Tijuana River sewage crisis, which has forced repeated beach closures, created persistent odors, damaged sensitive ecosystems, and hurt local tourism in Southern California. The administration's approach centers on a series of binational agreements designed to speed up stalled wastewater projects and expand long-term capacity in the rapidly growing Tijuana region.

Why it matters

For decades, untreated wastewater from across the border has flowed north into Southern California, causing significant environmental and public health issues. This coordinated push aims to finally address this persistent problem, but long-term success will depend on proper maintenance and follow-through.

The details

Key efforts include the expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, which can now treat an additional 10 million gallons of sewage per day, as well as projects on the Mexican side to repair aging infrastructure and redirect treated effluent away from the river system. A July 2025 memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Mexico focuses on unlocking funding, shortening project timelines, and adding new infrastructure to handle future population growth and maintenance needs.

  • In August 2025, the expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant was completed.
  • In July 2025, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the U.S. and Mexico to address the Tijuana River sewage crisis.
  • In late 2025, a follow-up agreement known as Minute 333 was reached, creating a dedicated operations and maintenance fund and requiring Mexico to produce a regional water infrastructure master plan.
  • A new sediment basin near the border is scheduled for completion by 2028, along with a new wastewater treatment plant in the Tecolote-La Gloria area.

The players

Lee Zeldin

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator.

Trump administration

The Trump administration is calling the efforts to address the Tijuana River sewage crisis a permanent fix.

North American Development Bank

The bank will host a dedicated operations and maintenance fund to help ensure new facilities remain functional over the long term.

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What they’re saying

“This has been a top priority for President Trump and I since my first visit to the San Diego area last April. We've made incredible progress in accelerating infrastructure buildouts and getting Mexico to step up to the plate, but we know the work isn't done.”

— Lee Zeldin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator

“The raw sewage flow from Mexico has caused real harm to communities for far too long. Our goal is to stop it for good.”

— Lee Zeldin, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator

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 coordinated effort between the U.S. and Mexico to address the Tijuana River sewage crisis represents a significant step forward, but long-term success will depend on proper maintenance and follow-through to ensure the new infrastructure and agreements deliver lasting relief for the affected communities.