Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Available On Air Stations
Watch Live

KPBS Midday Edition

Mexico Pledges $4.3 Million Effort To Stop Tijuana Spills

A danger sign at Imperial Beach is shown in this photo, March. 2, 2018.
Erik Anderson
A danger sign at Imperial Beach is shown in this photo, March. 2, 2018.
Mexico Pledges $4.3 Million Effort To Stop Tijuana Spills
Mexico Pledges $4.3 Million Effort To Stop Tijuana Spills GUEST:Serge Dedina, mayor, city of Imperial Beach

Mexico is pledging to spend $4.3 million to clean the Tijuana river channel after two California cities sued a U.S. agency over the decades-old problem of sewage fouling U.S. wetlands and beaches.

RELATED: Congressional Delegation Presents Unified Voice On Border Sewage Spills

Mexico's National Water Commission said Monday it will strengthen and clean overflow channels and drains, to prevent sewage and garbage from flowing into the Pacific near the U.S. border. It also will renovate pumping stations and electrical components to carry the runoff to treatment plants.

Advertisement

RELATED: Feds Facing Lawsuit Over Cross-Border Sewage Spills In San Diego

The California cities of Imperial Beach and Chula Vista and the Port of San Diego contend the International Boundary and Water Commission's U.S. section failed to comply with the federal Clean Water Act.

Pollution forced the closure of beaches in parts of Imperial Beach on more than 160 days the past two years.