As Mexico works to repair a wastewater line that collapsed twice in two weeks, Coronado’s beaches have closed.
Due to the collapse, the main wastewater treatment plant that handles Tijuana sewage is receiving “excessive” flows well beyond its design capacity, according to the US Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC).
The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is designed to treat 35 million gallons per day (MGD), reached peak flows of more than 60 MGD for 9 hours over the weekend. For 13 hours, flows were above 45 MGD.
On May 29, the Parallel Gravity Line in Tijuana collapsed, just two weeks after emergency repairs to the same line were completed. The cause of the collapse is still unknown.
Transboundary flows are also present in the related canyon collectors. The IBWC said it is sending additional staff and equipment to reduce the flows at these collectors, which intercept and divert dry-weather transboundary flows and sewage originating in Mexico to the South Bay plant.
Meanwhile, the following beaches closed in Coronado on June 2: the Silver Strand Shoreline, Avenida Lunar, the North Beach station to the Dog Beach station, and the Coronado Lifeguard Tower station to the Coronado station. Check current beach closures here.
US officials are pressing Mexico to complete repairs to the pipeline as quickly as possible to stop excess flows to the plant and the Tijuana River Channel.
In the meantime, the flows into the river are expected to cause stronger odors in the area.
Mexican authorities say the repairs are expected to take several days.
The Mexican government cannot be trusted
This sewage problem is over 40 years old
Answer-US Government pays for everything
Corp. of Engineers designs and oversees
American contractors doing all work in Mexico
US imposes 2% tariff on all products coming into USA, $1.00 fee to enter USA and $1.00 fee to enter Mexico from USA until problem is solved
Now, was that so hard to fix
Randy Reger
The Mexican government cannot be trusted
This sewage problem is over 40 years old
Answer-US Government pays for everything
Corp. of Engineers designs and oversees
American contractors doing all work in Mexico
US imposes 2% tariff on all products coming into USA, $1.00 fee to enter USA and $1.00 fee to enter Mexico from USA until problem is solved
Now, was that so hard to fix
Randy Reger
Our governments have failed us.
We work to pay our tax dollars so they can use it wisely to help us, not to steal it. They are stealing unlimited supply of tax dollars. It’s not about conservative-liberal, it’s about who controls the trillions of dollars coming in and how.
No infrastructure was required in Mexico when Nafta was created. All the Foreign Investors want to make a fast buck without an adequate sewage system or environmental protections. Inadequate response on the US side as far as wastewater treatment plant maintenance and size. The Southbay and border committees have always been treated like a a sh…hole. I am glad it’s reaching Coronado and the bases now. Hopefully that will stir up outrage and meaningful action.
No infrastructure was required in Mexico when Nafta was created. All the Foreign Investors want to make a fast buck without an adequate sewage system or environmental protections. Inadequate response on the US side as far as wastewater treatment plant maintenance and size. The Southbay and border committees have always been treated like a a sh…hole. I am glad it’s reaching Coronado and the bases now. Hopefully that will stir up outrage and meaningful action.
The problem is going to worsen soon because they’re building a thousand apartment building complex in playas de Tijuana which is going to send tons of additional raw sewage into the ocean.
Nine apartment towers plus a hotel and a shopping center. The problem is that Mexico doesn’t prepare or grow their infrastructure for these projects.
The residents are protesting big time and the project may be postponed but not canceled. It’s time for the federal government to put pressure on those local developers so they don’t to get away with this.
It’s called Civantia.
Coronado residents are not complaining much, navy seals are suffering and we need more actions on local politicians including our senators. Stop the stink
This problem has and will continue until enough taxation is collected to pay off the Mexican government officials and then build a sewage treatment plant system for Tijuana. Those people living on the California coast that’s the reality to solve the problem. So far, a lot of money spent for both Mexico and California officials to line their pockets and absolutely nothing accomplished. Sad to see such a beautiful place destroyed.
stop the stink
This has been going on for Decades!!!
Third world country
No pipeline system from all the “colonias”
Hire the crew that built the underground Drug tunnels from Tijuana to the US, Brown Field. Much better builders
This is a glimpse of our future coastline sewage contamination under the IBWC Minute Order 328. The future design flows when projects are completed will be over what we are experiencing now.
Lordy…that has been going on since I left Coronado 50 years ago!!
Judy….the is completely different. From 1962 to 2015 we had an average of 3 million gallons per year. Yes an entire year!…..now the flows are 15-20 million gallons per day
Yup, outhouses are still in use in all the colonias… shits gotta end up somewhere… sooooo, both countries need to come together and workout an engineered solution… stop pointing fingers or politicians that don’t give a xxxx!