Background

The Tijuana water utility, CESPT, is responsible for providing water and wastewater services to the municipality of Playas de Rosarito. In 2011, service coverage in the municipality was estimated to be 87% for water and 59% for wastewater collection. All of the wastewater collected is treated either at the Rosarito Norte or Rosarito I Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTP).

As part of its master plan to extend wastewater collection and treatment services to 100% of the city’s population and achieve zero discharges of untreated sewage into rivers and streams, CESPT proposes extending wastewater services to the area of Ampliación Lucio Blanco, on the north side of Playas de Rosarito. Currently residents do not have access to a
sewer system and use latrines, septic tanks without drain fields and open air ditches for wastewater disposal, posing a human health risk from direct contact with raw sewage, as well as an environmental risk for contamination of groundwater and surface water. An estimated 748 households in this subdivision are generating approximately 7.6 liters per
second (lps) or 170,000 gallons per day (gd) of wastewater that is not being disposed of properly.

Description

The project consists of constructing a sewer system by installing approximately 15,220 meters (49,934 ft) of sewer lines and subcollectors, and up to 915 sewer residential hookups. Wastewater collected in the project area will be treated at the Rosarito I wastewater treatment plant, which is currently being expended to increase its capacity to handle the additional flows. Treated effluent will be discharged into the Pacific Ocean via Arroyo Huahuatay.

Benefits

This project will reduce environmental and health hazards associated with inadequate sewage disposal, thus providing a cleaner healthier environment for local residents. Specifically, an estimated 170,000 gallons a day of wastewater will be collected and treated prior to its eventual discharge into the Pacific Ocean.