New U.S.–Mexico Pact Holds Mexico Accountable for Ending Tijuana River Sewage Pollution
(Photo by PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Monday that the Trump administration has finalized a new agreement with Mexico aimed at addressing the long-running sewage crisis in the Tijuana River.
The EPA has been working closely with Mexican officials on the issue and signed a substantive memorandum of understanding (MOU) in July. That MOU laid the foundation for the new agreement, known as Minute 333, which formally requires Mexico to develop a comprehensive water infrastructure master plan within six months. The agreement also places responsibility on Mexico for maintaining existing and new treatment facilities and completing construction projects needed to stop raw sewage from flowing into U.S. waterways.
For decades, wastewater from Mexico has polluted Southern California, particularly the San Diego region, resulting in foul odors, repeated beach closures, and reported illnesses among Navy SEALs who train offshore. According to the EPA, Minute 333 outlines a series of new actions, including infrastructure improvements, expanded research, enhanced monitoring, and long-term planning to ensure systems can handle future population growth in Tijuana.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agreement marks a major step toward a permanent fix. “Great progress has been made this year to achieve the 100% solution to the Tijuana River sewage crisis, but it would have all been for nothing if we didn’t plan for the inevitable growth of Tijuana and nearby areas,” Zeldin said. “That’s exactly what Minute 333 does. When I visited San Diego in April, I saw the frustration of residents firsthand. I promised a 100% solution, and the Trump EPA is delivering.”
The EPA emphasized that the July MOU paved the way for Monday’s agreement and reiterated that no new American tax dollars will be used to fund the projects outlined in Minute 333.
In a statement, the agency noted that the agreement was negotiated and finalized in record time. “Moving at Trump Speed, Minute 333 was signed in under five months,” the EPA said, adding that similar agreements have taken years in the past. The deal was completed ahead of a December 31 deadline set in the July MOU signed by Zeldin and Mexico’s Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources, Alicia Bárcena Ibarra.
The EPA said earlier agreements, including Minute 328, fell short because they did not account for future population growth in Tijuana — a gap that Minute 333 is designed to close. President Donald Trump addressed the issue earlier this month, stating that “Mexico must take care of its water and sewage problem, IMMEDIATELY.”
California lawmakers from both parties praised the agreement. The EPA highlighted statements of support from Republican Rep. Darrell Issa and Democratic Reps. Scott Peters and Mike Levin.
Sen. Tim Sheehy of Montana, a former Navy SEAL, also welcomed the announcement. “This latest agreement between the United States and Mexico is a tremendous step in the right direction,” Sheehy said. “As someone who trained in these waters, I’m grateful to President Trump and Administrator Zeldin for their focus on ending the toxic conditions that have harmed our troops, threatened readiness, and undermined national security.”
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