Coastkeeper Calls for Comprehensive Border Sewage Solution.

GAO Report Called Inadequate to Identify Long-Term Sewage Fix

SAN DIEGO -- San Diego Coastkeeper has called for a comprehensive plan to address border sewage contamination as expeditiously as possible. "Inadequately treated sewage and untreated 'fugitive' flows pose a significant environmental, health, and economic threat to communities on both sides of the border as well as the Tijuana Estuary," noted San Diego Coastkeeper's Executive Director Bruce Reznik. "Addressing this problem warrants the greatest possible response from local, state and federal officials."

Coastkeeper's position comes in response to the U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) Border Wastewater Treatment report (GAO-08-595R), which was prepared pursuant to federal legislation authored by U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. The GAO report assesses two alternate strategies for addressing sewage which flows between Southern California and Northern Baja California: the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plan (SBIWTP) and Bajagua.

According the Reznik, "The GAO report is not the comprehensive assessment of border sewage treatment strategies that is needed to address this chronic problem. It would be impossible to use this report to justify moving ahead with any particular project." By the agency's own admission, the GAO report does not:

1. Independently assess Tijuana's current or future wastewater treatment needs or the extent to which each proposal addresses those needs;

2. Assess whether Bajagua, LLC could develop the capacity to reclaim and sell water from its proposed plant and whether such sales would reduce costs to the federal government;

3. Assess the extent to which untreated or under-treated sewage from Mexico affects southern California, how these impacts vary between wet and dry period, and the extent to which each project would address these impacts;

4. Assess the extent to which the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) managed previous projects within their estimated costs or timeframes; or

5. Independently verify the cost or timeline information provided by the IBWC and Bajagua, LLC.

While Coastkeeper has not endorsed either project, the organization did indicate that highest priority for implementation should be given to projects that: (1) Use best available sewage treatment and disposal technology; (2) Will achieve secondary treatment standards as expeditiously as possible; (3) Treat the greatest amount of current sewage flows and be expandable to handle projected flows; (4) Have the capability to reuse water to provide a valuable water resource to local communities; (5) Be enforceable; and (6) Have the support of the Mexican Government and Mexican NGOs. "These criteria are crucial to ensure that any project developed serves the best interest of communities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border," added Reznik.

Coastkeeper also called for a comprehensive assessment that evaluates all strategies to reduce these sewage flows in order to develop a blueprint for addressing the border sewage problem. Such an assessment can be undertaken simultaneously with the implementation of specific projects that will begin to address the border sewage problem so as not to cause further delays.

"Neither of the strategies addressed in the GOA report will, alone, fully address the border sewage problem," added Reznik. "Significant investment in Tijuana's sewage collection system as well as funding to remediate past damage done to the Tijuana River Valley and estuary is needed."

Coastkeeper estimates a comprehensive assessment, which evaluates all strategies to reduce sewage flows and recommends a preferred alternative, will take up to two years and cost $300,000-$500,000. The organization also called for aggressive efforts to build the capacity of environmental nonprofit organizations in Tijuana to support this assessment and work to help implement recommended projects once the assessment is completed.

Concluded Reznik, "One of the most disappointing aspects of this battle is that addressing the devastating problem of border sewage contamination has generated so much controversy and fractiousness. It is difficult to imagine effectively addressing a problem of this magnitude without all interested parties working cooperatively towards a comprehensive, long-lasting solution."

Founded in 1995, San Diego Coastkeeper protects the region's bays, beaches, watersheds and ocean for the people and wildlife that depend on them. We balance community outreach, education, and advocacy to promote stewardship of clean water and a healthy coastal ecosystem.