Repairs for a critical wastewater treatment plant near the U.S.-Mexico border are needed following damage caused by Tropical Storm Hilary that surged through Southern California and northern Mexico last month. The agency that operates the plant is preparing to undertake $8 million in repairs, in addition to previously planned projects estimated to cost hundreds of millions more to prevent untreated wastewater from polluting the U.S. side of the Tijuana River valley and nearby beaches.
The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Diego treats wastewater coming from Tijuana, Mexico, and discharges it to the Pacific Ocean. It was designed to provide secondary treatment of 25-million-gallon per day (mgd) average daily flows. But heavy rainfall from Hilary caused flows exceeding its capacity by 100% for six hours, and by 320% for another six hours between Aug. 20 and 21, according to the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC), which operates the plant.