The U.S. and Mexico signed a new agreement, Minute 333, outlining projects and timelines for both countries to reduce cross-border sewage pollution from Tijuana.
David Fotouhi, deputy administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), unveiled Minute 333 on Dec. 15 calling it another “historic milestone” in the federal administration’s effort to urgently and permanently end the crisis.
Fotouhi said Minute 333 includes infrastructure projects, research, enhanced monitoring, and planning for operation and maintenance of critical sites and systems that will account for future population growth in Tijuana.
“This is a key component that was missing from previous agreements made prior to the Trump administration,” said Fotouhi.
“With the signing of this minute, the United States has met all of its 2025 obligations under the (memorandum of understanding),” he added. “Notably, Minute 333 does not obligate any additional U.S. taxpayer funding, including for Mexican side projects.”
For decades, untreated raw sewage and industrial waste from Tijuana has entered South San Diego directly impacting the Tijuana River Valley and surrounding communities. The crisis has sickened people, led to beach closures, given rise to noxious odors and affected the economic opportunity of cities being polluted.
During a visit to San Diego in April, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin discussed the sewage crisis with his Mexican counterpart, toured the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP), met with Navy SEALs and spoke with elected officials.
Zeldin and Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, Mexico’s secretary of environment and natural resources, signed a memorandum of understanding in July addressing a list of priorities on both sides of the border. Identified in the memorandum was a 10-million-gallons-per-day (mgd) expansion of the South Bay plant in 100 days, completed earlier this year. The MOU also set a Dec. 31 deadline for the new Minute, which was met with this Dec. 15 announcement.
“This new Minute, along with the significant improvements we have made at our San Diego plant and Mexico’s commitment to finish its projects ahead of schedule, will improve the health and safety of Americans,” said Chad McIntosh, commissioner of the USIBWC.
Key projects in Minute 333
Fotouhi said the EPA and USIBWC are working with the urgency demanded by President Trump, San Diego area residents and the American people.
On Dec. 10, Trump addressed the crisis with a 19-second clip on Truth Social showing untreated Tijuana River flows.
“Mexico must take care of its water and sewage problem, IMMEDIATELY,” wrote Trump online. “It is a true Threat to the People of Texas, California, and the United States of America!”
According to Fotouhi, Minute 333 was negotiated and signed in less than five months as a direct result of the July memorandum.
Fotouhi said everything the U.S. identified in July as the memorandum’s fourth section is “part of a 100% solution to the crisis” now included in Minute 333.
The section identified actions to be accomplished through binational workgroups led by the commission.
Fotouhi said some Minute 333 projects are being worked on now, some are slated for 2026 and others for 2027.
A Minute 333 work group is expected to initiate studies that inform recommendations for the installation of an ocean outfall at the San Antonio de los Buenos Wastewater Treatment Plant (SAB WWTP) within six months.
Supplementary treatment for the plant’s effluent, such as ozonation for disinfection, odor control, and reduction of chemical usage, will also be evaluated by the group by December of 2026.
The minute also looks to expand treatment capacity of the plant in Tijuana from 18 mgd to 43 mgd.
Minute 333 actions also include:
- Mexico’s development of an updated water master plan for Tijuana within six months, to ensure sufficient infrastructure is constructed proportionate to anticipated population growth.
- Development of a monitoring system of the flow in the Tijuana River and water quality data from the treated effluent discharged by wastewater treatment plants including SBIWTP and SAB WWTP within six months.
- Mexico’s construction of a sediment basin in Matadero Canyon (Smuggler’s Gulch), which is located near the international boundary, prior to the 2026-2027 rainy season.
- The creation of an account at the North America Development Bank to reserve dollars provided to Mexico for future operations and maintenance costs, with recommendations from the binational work group due within 12 months of signing.
“To be crystal clear, this human health and ecological crisis will not end solely with the swipe of a pen,” said Fotouhi. “The next step is for both nations to faithfully implement the agreed upon items in Minute 333.”
To view the full list of Minute 333 projects, visit: https://www.epa.gov/sustainable-water-infrastructure/minute-no-333.
