Administrator Lee Zeldin Provides Public Update in San Diego Area on Trump Admin Efforts to Implement 100% Solution to Tijuana River Sewage Crisis
At Valley Center Avocado Farm, Zeldin Held Press Conference Touting President Trump’s Achievements Over the Last Year
SAN DIEGO – On Friday, February 27th, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin held a press conference at an avocado farm in Congressman Darrell Issa’s (CA-48) district where he provided a public update on Trump Administration efforts to permanently and urgently end the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis. During his remarks, he outlined various progress benchmarks that have been made since his most recent trip to the area earlier this month.
“The Trump EPA has been working every day at implementing the permanent, urgent 100% solution to the decades old Tijuana River raw sewage emergency. The agreement we signed with Mexico last year includes reduced timelines and additional necessary Mexico-side projects at no added US taxpayer cost. As these projects are completed in 2026 and 2027, with one project slated for 2028, Americans will be finally crossing the long-awaited finish line of this crisis and nightmare,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
For Mexico-side project updates:
- EPA officials have confirmed via on-the-ground site visits that Mexico has begun construction of the effluent relocation project from the Arturo Herrera and La Morita Wastewater Treatment Plants. This is a phased project, with Phase 1 having an anticipated completion in early 2027, and Phase 2 anticipated for completion in December 2027.
- Mexico continues to make progress on the rehabilitation of the Parallel Gravity Main – Mexico secured $8.9M for this project and construction began in November 2025 with estimated completion in July 2026.
- Mexico confirmed in writing they’ve committed $34 million in federal funding to begin 5 of the 6 projects required in 2026. They are:
- Insurgentes Collector rehabilitation
- PB-Matadero and Laureles PB-2
- Poniente Interceptor rehabilitation
- Oriente Interceptor rehabilitation
- Collector Carranza rehabilitation
- EPA is closely monitoring to make sure Mexico gets the remaining amount needed to fund the PB1 energy supply as agreed to in the MOU.
- Mexico committed to investing $46 million in 2026 as agreed to in the MOU, and EPA is confirming whether this will be made up with state/local funding.
For U.S.-Side Updates:
- U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) contractors’ 60% design submission for the next expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (SBIWTP) was received in December 2025, and the 90% submission is due in April 2026.
- Last August, plant capacity was expanded from 25 mgd to 35 mgd. That project, originally slated to take two years, was completed in 100 days.
- EPA Office of Water is leading a binational Operation & Maintenance (O&M) workgroup to develop strategies for O&M accounts agreed to in Minute 333.
Pursuant to the July Memorandum of Understanding Zeldin signed with Mexico in July of last year, the Trump EPA issued its first quarterly public update on November 21, 2025. The Administrator’s trip to San Diego was his third in the last ten months.