Rep. Scott Peters (D), who represents much of San Diego and the surrounding region, on Tuesday announced the inclusion of $250 million to repair a critical wastewater treatment plant in the proposed government spending bill.
That $250 million is a tiny slice of the more than $100 billion in disaster aid unveiled by lawmakers Tuesday evening, although they have yet to officially pass the legislation.
But this comparatively small sum is vital to fixing the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant — a dilapidated facility located in the U.S. that treats polluted water flowing in from Mexico.
The border-adjacent city of Imperial Beach and its neighbors have for years been the recipients of wastewater tainted with chemicals and pathogens.
This unrelenting flow, which results from inadequate treatment in Mexico, ends up in California via ocean plumes and the Tijuana River Watershed.
Assuming the spending bill passes, the $250 million would enable the full funding of the repairs and expansions necessary at South Bay, according to Peters.
“Just a few months ago, we broke ground on the project to fix and upgrade the broken plant — now we have the money to finish the job,” the congressman said in a statement.
“San Diegans have been calling on the federal government to put an end to this crisis for years," Peters continued. "It is long overdue, and won’t happen overnight, but our community will see the results as these fixes are completed."
The funds included in the spending bill would add to a $156 million sum dedicated to fixing the South Bay site in the March Fiscal Year 2024 Appropriations bill.
Rep. Juan Vargas (D), who is also from the region, lamented that the river "has hurt our health, our environment and our economy for too long," but touted the latest development as “a big step forward.”
In separate but related news Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) office announced the launch of a $4.7 million pilot project aimed at cleaning up the Tijuana River by intercepting sewage with floating trash booms.
Overseen by the nonprofit Rural Community Assistance Corporation, the booms will capture tires, washing machines and other debris blocking the river’s flow into the South Bay plant, according to the governor's office.
The pilot, which will run for two consecutive storm seasons, began with the launch of plastic-and-steel encased booms last month, according to the governor's office.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the next phase of the project: The elimination of objects that hinder raw wastewater from getting into the treatment plant.
"This project to stop trash from clogging the river is part of an all-of-the-above approach we’re taking to help protect Tijuana River valley communities," Newsom stated.
