The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the signing of an agreement with Mexican authorities to combat pollution of the Tijuana River, which originates in Mexico and flows towards its northern neighbor. Minute 333, published this Monday, is the result of negotiations between representatives of the two countries, after the signing in June of the memorandum of understanding in which the Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources, Alicia Bárcena, and Lee Zeldin, director of the EPA, participated.
This memorandum indicated that the two countries, which make up the International Boundary and Water Commission, had to sign a new law before December 31. The document published this Monday afternoon contains some previously agreed commitments, such as the study of the technical and economic viability of the installation of an underwater transmitter in the San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant, according to evaluations by the North American Development Bank, as well as the investment of 700 million dollars.
In addition, the expansion of water treatment capacity in the same plant will be analyzed so that it can clean more than 1,900 liters per second, which is 1,100 more than its current capacity. Among the items noted are also plans to develop a regular wastewater cleanup schedule and a cost-sharing formula for sediment cleanup and dredging operations in the Tijuana River, for which California residents have filed pollution complaints.
Mexico is committed to building and maintaining the Matadero Canyon Basin, under the responsibility of the Ministry of National Defense, to be completed before the 2026 rainy season. The country will have an account at the Development Bank to finance operation and maintenance. In this, a savings section will be created to extend the useful life of the constructions carried out during this period.
Last week, President Donald Trump threatened Mexico on the social network Truth to impose a 5% tariff on imports if it did not resolve the water delivery agreed in the 1944 treaty, which concerned about 246 million cubic meters by December 31.
Although cleanup and water transport agreements are not part of the same international pacts, Donald Trump emphasized both subjects during the week. President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified that the delivery of water provided for in the 1944 Treaty would be done gradually, while, in the case of the Tijuana River tributary, the agreements are progressing steadily and the United States also has commitments, such as the expansion of the San Diego wastewater treatment plant, which is not yet completed.
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