14-02-2025
South Bay sewage treatment plant back at operational capacity, official says
SAN DIEGO (KUSI) — The current head of the federal agency that oversees one of the wastewater treatment plants at the center of the Tijuana River sewage crisis says it is back up to its intended capacity — a feat that has been hailed as a sign of progress.
The South Bay facility has been unable to carry its weight since Tropical Storm Hilary hit the region two years ago, causing critical failures to its aged infrastructure.
Now, it is back up and running to treat upwards of 25 million gallons of wastewater each day.
With these repairs complete, the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is turning to construction efforts to double — or potentially triple — the sewage treatment plant's capacity and lay the groundwork for proactive maintenance moving forward.
'The problems we are having now are the result of decades of lack of investment,' said Maria Elena Giner, IBWC commissioner. 'It took time to get here and it's going to take time to undo what's happening now.'
Watch Dan Plante's report for KUSI News in the player above.
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