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Adopted by the Executive Committee, May 15, 2002
Whereas: Increasing volumes of untreated wastewater have, for many years, crossed the border into the United States, fouling the Tijuana River, its estuary, and South Bay Beaches, and
Whereas: The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) currently treats 25 million gallons per day (mgd) of such wastewater, to an advanced primary standard of treatment, at its facility just north of said border, then discharges the partially treated effluent into the ocean through the South Bay Ocean Outfall, and
Whereas: the IBWC facility is designed to increase its primary treatment capacity to a maximum of 50 mgd, an increase made necessary by the anticipated increase in cross-border wastewater volumes, and
Whereas: the partially treated effluent from the IWBC facility violates the United States "Clean Water" act, which requires a secondary level of treatment, and constitutes a threat to marine and human environments, and
Whereas: Under its current border treaty with the United States, Mexico has the right to reclaim for beneficial uses all or part of the cross border effluent from such facility, and
Whereas: An acute and growing shortage of water exists throughout the metropolitan area of the City of Tijuana.
The Sierra Club, San Diego Chapter supports any responsible project that will do the following:
1. Treat up to 50 mgd of such cross-border wastewater to the "secondary" standards required by the U.S. Clean Water act.
2. Comply with all applicable laws and regulations of the United States and Mexico.
3. Design and plan to reclaim all or part of the treated effluent for beneficial uses in Greater Tijuana.
4. Engage in community outreach within Greater Tijuana in order to obtain the widest possible public participation in treatment and reuse planning decisions.
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