Second public meeting held for wastewater infrastructure projects in Tijuana, Baja California
- These projects will reduce the risk of transboundary wastewater flows to the United States.
Tijuana, Baja California. – A second public meeting was held today to present information about two proposed wastewater infrastructure projects in Tijuana, Baja California. The projects consist of rehabilitating the Tijuana River Diversion System and the International Collector. The purpose of both projects is to reduce discharges of untreated wastewater into the Tijuana River and minimize transboundary flows into the United States, as well as prevent waterborne diseases caused by exposure to untreated wastewater.
The Tijuana River Diversion System includes the rehabilitation of the PBCILA Pump Station and the construction of new headworks in the Tijuana River, as well as rehabilitation of the PB1A y PB1B Pump Stations. The rehabilitation of the PBCILA Pump Station and the new headworks in the Tijuana River were completed in 2021 with Mexican federal funding.
The rehabilitation of the International Collector consists of replacing deteriorated pipe susceptible to failure and breaks by installing a 9,012-foot alternative line using 60- and 72-inch high-density polyethylene pipe.
The local water utility, Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Tijuana (CESPT), has requested a grant from the North American Development Bank (NADBank) to finance part of the construction works under both projects. In order to be considered for grant financing from NADBank, projects must go through a certification process that includes public participation to ensure that the population impacted has been informed of the expected effects and benefits of projects under consideration in their community.
The total estimated cost of both projects is $525 million pesos. If approved, NADBank would provide grant funding equivalent to 43% of the total cost through its Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF), which is funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by the Bank. The BEIF grants would be matched by federal and local funding.
These projects fall within the framework of the actions and efforts that NADBank has been promoting in coordination with federal, state and municipal authorities on both sides of the border to support sustainable environmental infrastructure in the region.
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El NADBank es una institución financiera establecida y capitalizada en partes iguales por los gobiernos de México y Estados Unidos, con el propósito de financiar proyectos de infraestructura ambiental a lo largo de su frontera común. Como institución pionera en su campo, el Banco trabaja para desarrollar proyectos sostenibles desde un punto de vista ambiental y financiero, con amplio apoyo comunitario, en un marco de colaboración y coordinación estrechas entre los dos países.