Mexico's wastewater plant repair slows sewage pollution in San Diego
CORONADO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) — Mexico's Punta Bandera Wastewater Treatment Plant has been repaired and is back up and running at full capacity, helping to stop some of the sewage from entering the Pacific Ocean in southern San Diego County, and the South Bay community is starting to return to the beaches after the polluted water signs have begun coming down.
The Punta Bandera Wastewater Treatment Plant — known as the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant — is located six miles south of the U.S.-Mexico border in Tijuana.
EPA administrator tours Tijuana River Valley, address sewage crisis
Coronado Mayor John Duncan has confirmed the wastewater plant has been repaired after the Mexican government, in coordination with the International Boundary and Water Commission, took over the reconstruction of the dilapidated plant that has been contributing to the pollution at southern San Diego beaches from Imperial Beach to the Hotel del Coronado for years.
The Mexican military completed the rebuild project in about a year. It was initially slated to be finished in the fall of 2024, but was finalized in April 2025, according to Duncan.
'Historic day' as ground is broken on sewage treatment facility south of the border
Unless it breaks down again, the plant at Punta Bandera will remove 18 million gallons of raw sewage from entering the Pacific Ocean everyday, but that is only a fraction of what's been flowing across the border daily for years.
Now, with 18 million gallons being treated across the border in Mexico, and 25 million being treated on the United States side, things appear to be changing.
The pollution signs in Coronado were removed Tuesday, and people were swimming and surfing in the Pacific Ocean in an area that has been closed on and off for several years.
Free air purifiers available for South Bay residents: Here's how to apply
Tijuana River the second most endangered river in US in 2025
County launches new interactive map of Tijuana River sewage impacts
Before San Diegans head to the beach anywhere in the county, they can check the water quality at sdbeachinfo.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Survivors of Sapelo Island dock collapse suing construction companies
The Brief The survivors of a ferry dock collapse that killed seven people on Georgia's Sapelo Island last year are suing the engineering and construction companies responsible for the dock's construction. The collapse happened when family members and tourists had traveled to the island for Cultural Day, an annual fall event spotlighting the island's tiny community of Hogg Hummock, home to a few dozen Black residents. Officials have confirmed with FOX 5 that the last inspection of the gangway took place in December 2023. No areas of concern were found during the inspection, which officials say examined the top and bottom sides. SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. - The survivors of a ferry dock collapse on Georgia's Sapelo Island have filed a lawsuit against the engineering and construction companies responsible for the dock's construction. The devastating disaster killed seven people and injured more than a dozen others who had gathered on the small island for a celebration. MORE: Remembering the victims of the Sapelo Island dock collapse The backstory The collapse happened on Oct. 19, 2024, when family members and tourists gathered for Cultural Day, an annual fall event spotlighting the island's tiny community of Hogg Hummock, home to a few dozen Black residents. Authorities say the dock held about 40 people when the metal snapped, sending them into the Atlantic waters. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources said engineers calculated that the 80-foot gangway should have been able to support the weight of 320 people. The dock was rebuilt in 2021 after Georgia officials settled a lawsuit by Hogg Hummock residents who complained the ferries and docks failed to meet federal accessibility standards for people with disabilities. Ferry worker Ed Grovner said he complained to a ferry captain months ago that the gangway didn't seem sturdy enough, but nothing happened. "I couldn't sleep last night," Grovner told the Associated Press after the disaster. "My wife said I was sleeping, I was hollering in my sleep, saying, 'I'm going to save you. I'm going to save you. I'm going to get you.'" Officials have confirmed with FOX 5 that the last inspection of the gangway took place in December 2023. No areas of concern were found during the inspection, which officials say examined the top and bottom sides. The remains of the gangway were sent to a secure facility to be inspected. Details about that inspection have not been released. What we know Attorney Chadrick A. Mance announced that a lawsuit has been filed in Gwinnett County against the parties involved in the engineering and construction of the gangway. According to the complaint, the survivors suffered physical injuries and mental anguish and trauma. While the complaint has not been released to the public yet, the Savannah-based attorney plans to discuss the lawsuit at a press conference on Wednesday morning. Dig deeper Civil rights attorney Ben Crump has also announced he would be representing the families of three of the individuals who lost their lives and one who was injured in the collapse. "The tragic deaths and injuries caused by the collapse of the Sapelo Island dock gangway are devastating for these families and the entire community. We will not rest until we uncover the truth behind this catastrophic failure and hold those responsible accountable," Crump said. "This should never have happened, and it is crucial that we prevent future tragedies by addressing the negligence that led to this horrific event. Sapelo Island also has no medical facilities. Resident Jazz Watts said a health care provider was planning to open a clinic in the county-owned building that had long served as the island's community center. But those plans got scrapped when county commissioners opted to lease the space for a restaurant. The Source Information for this story came from a release by The Mance Law Firm and previous FOX 5 reporting.
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lake Contrary weed treatment begins
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After a 24-hour delay, a Buchanan County contractor was able to take on the task of spraying weeds at Lake Contrary. A helicopter pilot sprayed Clearcast Aquatic Herbicide, an EPA-approved product, on more than 300 acres of land. High winds delayed the two-day project that was supposed to start on Monday and turned it into a one-day job on Tuesday. I believe that he wanted a drone photo of it sometime last week just to kind of see where the green was and all that stuff because there are certain areas where certain types of vegetation need a little bit more (Clearcast)," Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson said. A product overview on its website says the growth of sensitive plants will stop 24 hours after application. Nelson estimates that it will be six weeks before the aquatic herbicide kills the vegetation. "I think this takes a little while for it just because it's got to get absorbed, and then it's got to move down the root stem to the root ball, and then it starts to work on the root ball," he said. "I'm assuming that we're going to see the color changes and that sort of thing." The Missouri Office of Administration told the Buchanan County commissioners last October that taking care of the lake was their responsibility once it dried up. Nelson said removing the weeds is primarily to remove fire hazards. "This is the first step since we've been mandated by the state to maintain it," Nelson said. "So this is what we're doing to maintain it." Buchanan County received a permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on Friday to allow weed spraying, but the county still has not received a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the lake. "Other things have kind of crept up and overtaken it on the to-do list," Nelson said. "The big one being the (juvenile) detention center." Nelson said the weed spraying on Tuesday is the largest effort to remove vegetation at Lake Contrary that he can think of. Now, the county commission will observe the results over the next couple of months. "This is 300 acres that we want to get beat down and basically see how it does and then how long it lasts, Nelson said.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lake Contrary weed treatment begins
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — After a 24-hour delay, a Buchanan County contractor was able to take on the task of spraying weeds at Lake Contrary. A helicopter pilot sprayed Clearcast Aquatic Herbicide, an EPA-approved product, on more than 300 acres of land. High winds delayed the two-day project that was supposed to start on Monday and turned it into a one-day job on Tuesday. I believe that he wanted a drone photo of it sometime last week just to kind of see where the green was and all that stuff because there are certain areas where certain types of vegetation need a little bit more (Clearcast)," Buchanan County Presiding Commissioner Scott Nelson said. A product overview on its website says the growth of sensitive plants will stop 24 hours after application. Nelson estimates that it will be six weeks before the aquatic herbicide kills the vegetation. "I think this takes a little while for it just because it's got to get absorbed, and then it's got to move down the root stem to the root ball, and then it starts to work on the root ball," he said. "I'm assuming that we're going to see the color changes and that sort of thing." The Missouri Office of Administration told the Buchanan County commissioners last October that taking care of the lake was their responsibility once it dried up. Nelson said removing the weeds is primarily to remove fire hazards. "This is the first step since we've been mandated by the state to maintain it," Nelson said. "So this is what we're doing to maintain it." Buchanan County received a permit from the Missouri Department of Natural Resources on Friday to allow weed spraying, but the county still has not received a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the lake. "Other things have kind of crept up and overtaken it on the to-do list," Nelson said. "The big one being the (juvenile) detention center." Nelson said the weed spraying on Tuesday is the largest effort to remove vegetation at Lake Contrary that he can think of. Now, the county commission will observe the results over the next couple of months. "This is 300 acres that we want to get beat down and basically see how it does and then how long it lasts, Nelson said.
