Governor Gavin Newsom has announced $250 million in federal funding to repair and expand the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant, tackling cross-border pollution from the Tijuana River. Secured in partnership with the Biden-Harris Administration, the funding will significantly reduce untreated sewage flows into California’s coastal waters, which have caused 1,000 consecutive days of beach closures and devastated local ecosystems.
The investment builds on years of collaboration and $703 million in total federal funding since 2022. California has also committed $35 million for cleanup and restoration efforts. Governor Newsom emphasized this as a turning point for public health and the environment, saying, “We are delivering the resources needed to protect our beaches and communities.”
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