The U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) says repairs have been completed on a massive sewage pipeline that collapsed in Tijuana on Jan. 15, spewing 11.5 million gallons of raw sewage daily into the Tijuana River.
According to the online post, the State Commission of Public Services of Tijuana (CESPT) has reconstructed the collapsed well and manhole.
Shortly after the incident, United States representatives on the IBWC said in a Jan. 16 post they were “pushing Mexico to complete repairs as soon as possible. The South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant has not been affected.”
Frank Fisher, USIBWC’s public information officer, said the plant gets its flows from the Mexican collector system, not the Tijuana River.
“We have been able to properly manage the flows to the plant,” said Fisher.
As of Jan. 19, the entire Coronado shoreline remained closed due to bacteria levels exceeding health standards.
Coronado Mayor John Duncan said he was notified by USIBWC Commissioner Chad McIntosh when the collapse happened and said he plans to meet with him to discuss all IBWC-related issues.
“This highlights the need for a comprehensive analysis to implement a short-term and long-term plan for all of the Tijuana infrastructure as set forth in Minute 333,” said Duncan. “This is an additional urgent need, separate but related to all of the treatment infrastructure being built now.”
