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Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua – The Board of Directors of the North American Development Bank (NADB) approved US$10.5 million in loans and grants to support three new projects in the areas of wastewater and solid waste management, which will benefit communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Gabriel Yorio González, Head of International Finance at Mexico’s Ministry of Finance (SHCP) and Board chair for 2019, reported that these projects represent a total investment of close to US$18.5 million for the benefit of 153,600 people.  

The announcement was made at the semi-annual public meeting of the Board of Directors, held this afternoon in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. The Board is formed by representatives of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, the Ministry of Foreign Relations and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources on behalf of Mexico and by the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the United States, as well as border state and resident representatives from both countries.

The public meeting was attended by Alejandra de la Vega, Secretary of Innovation and Economic Development of the State of Chihuahua, among other dignitaries from various communities on both sides of the border.

During the private session this morning, the Commissioners of both the U.S. and Mexican Sections of the International Border and Water Commission, Jayne Harkins and Roberto Salmon, joined the Board Meeting as guest attendees. They underscored their commitment to addressing transboundary wastewater issues on the border.

Among the projects certified for financing, two are in the sector of wastewater. The first project consists of the continued rehabilitation of a deteriorated section of the sewer trunk line known as “Colector Poniente”, in northwestern Tijuana, Baja California. This project will help reduce water pollution and the risk of transboundary wastewater flows into the United States.

The second project consists of the expansion and rehabilitation of the wastewater collection and treatment system in the city of Gustavo Díaz Ordaz, Tamaulipas, benefitting approximately 12,354 residents of this border community. The main components of the project include construction of a new wastewater treatment plant with the capacity to treat 0.59 million gallons a day (mgd) and expansion of the sewer system to provide first-time access to wastewater services to 2,644 homes in unserved areas of the city, among other improvements.

Altogether, these two projects will receive US$6.93 million in grants though the Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF), which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by NADB.

The third project consists of expanding the sanitary landfill in Maverick County, Texas, by opening a third cell. The landfill serves the entire county, so the project will benefit all 54,258 residents by providing additional capacity to continue managing the proper disposal of approximately 150 tons of solid waste a day. NADB will provide a loan for up to US$2.92 million to Maverick County, as well as a US$150,000 grant through NADB’s Community Assistance Program (CAP).

 “The approval of these projects reaffirms NADB’s ongoing support for infrastructure that will improve the environment,” stated NADB Managing Director Alex Hinojosa. 

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NADB is a financial institution established and capitalized in equal parts by the United States and Mexico for the purpose of financing environmental infrastructure projects along their common border. As a pioneer institution in its field, the Bank is working to develop environmentally and financially sustainable projects with broad community support in a framework of close cooperation and coordination between Mexico and the United States.