Is the IB Sewage Problem Ever Going to Be Fixed?

There have been years of talk, finger-pointing and empty promises about solving the Imperial Beach and Tijuana sewage crisis. So I wanted to cut through the noise and find out what is actually happening as of August 2026.

I am not a scientist or wastewater expert. But I lived in Imperial Beach for 9 years, own property there and work in the local real estate market, so I have plenty of reason to stay informed.

When we moved to IB in 2015, everyone knew not to swim in the ocean after it rained because Tijuana’s sewage system could not handle the extra water. Eventually, polluted days started outnumbering clean ones. In September 2024, southern IB’s shoreline reached 1,000 consecutive days of closure—a depressing milestone no one wanted to hit.

During President Trump’s first term, Congress appropriated $300 million toward a solution. More funding followed, but the continuing closures and smell made those promises feel like hearing that the check was in the mail. 

Recently, I sat down with a representative working with Veolia, operator of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant. My biggest takeaway: major projects are finally funded, under construction or already operating - progress, finally!

Why did the beaches suddenly seem closed all the time?

The pollution worsened as Tijuana’s rapid population growth put even more pressure on an already undersized and poorly maintained wastewater system.At the same time, San Diego County also changed how it tests ocean water. On May 5, 2022, the County switched from a slower culture-based test to a same-day DNA test called ddPCR. The old method grew living bacteria; the new one measures bacterial DNA, which can include bacteria that are no longer alive. County officials say it provides a more precise picture of contamination. Locals wonder why the results are so vastly different than before.

Whatever your opinion of the change, the practical result was dramatic: in May 2022, IB beaches were closed 25 of 31 days, compared with zero days the previous May.  See the County’s testing explanation.

So what is causing the problem?

Tijuana’s population is comparable to Houston’s, the fourth-largest city in the U.S. but its wastewater infrastructure has not kept pace. Some areas have treatment and sewer infrastructure; others have systems that are undersized, unreliable or nonexistent. When they fail or become overwhelmed, sewage enters the Tijuana River or the ocean, where currents can carry it north toward Imperial Beach and Coronado.

What is actually being done to fix it?

The United States and Mexico have entered binding agreements identifying specific projects, deadlines and responsibilities. According to figures shared at my meeting, the complete solution is expected to exceed $1 billion. More importantly, much of that money is actively being spent on the solution.

On the U.S. side…

The biggest U.S. project is the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.  It was originally completed in 1997 and was fully operational in 1999. But it was built to treat 25 million gallons of Tijuana sewage per day, and it was never meant to serve all of Tijuana. In August 2025, the plant’s capacity increased to 35 million gallons, and it is currently being expanded to reach 50 million by the end of 2027. This plant will treat sewage from central/downtown Tijuana and is fed by a pipe that runs across the border to treat the sewage before releasing treated wastewater 3.5 miles into the deep ocean. The rehabilitation and expansion represent approximately $650 million of the $1B+ solution.

 Follow the latest federal progress updates.

On the Mexico side…

On the Mexican coast, San Antonio de los Buenos, the treatment plant near Punta Bandera, is finally operating again after years of failure and deferred maintenance. It treats approximately 18 million gallons per day that would otherwise flow directly into the ocean.

Tecolote-La Gloria is a new separate, smaller plant intended to serve southwestern Tijuana. It will treat about 3 million gallons per day and capture sewage that would otherwise reach the Pacific untreated. Construction began years ago but stalled after a contractor dispute. As part of this agreement, Mexico has committed to completing it by December 2028.

Mexico is also repairing major pipes and pumps and installing gates designed to intercept sewage before it reaches the Tijuana River. This is especially important in eastern Tijuana, where, I was told, some areas still have little or no formal wastewater infrastructure, allowing untreated wastewater and runoff to follow natural drainage channels toward the river.

What is San Diego County doing?

The County approved $4.75 million from its emergency reserves, including $2.5 million to temporarily improve the Saturn Boulevard hotspot and $2.25 million for health studies. At Saturn Boulevard, contaminated water is forced through aging culverts, creating turbulence, foam and airborne pollutants. Think of it like shaking a very disgusting soda bottle: the turbulence helps launch hydrogen sulfide and other contaminants into the air. A temporary pipe extension should smooth the flow and reduce airborne exposure while officials pursue a permanent solution. Read the County’s feasibility-study summary.

Separately, the County completed dredging work at Smuggler’s Gulch to reduce the risk of flooding during heavy rains and has committed to creating a full-time Pollution Crisis Chief—informally, a “sewage czar”—rather than dividing responsibility among numerous departments.

I was also told the County is exploring tax-code tools to hold U.S. companies accountable when they avoid environmental requirements by operating in Tijuana while their pollution flows back into San Diego County. The mechanism was not clear, so I am treating it as an idea under consideration—not an established program. But I get the logic: companies should not be able to move pollution south and send the consequences back across the border for their own profit.

So, is the problem actually being solved?

For the first time, I can say with confidence that improvements are in progress. I know that sounds like another empty promise to residents who are more than ready for a solution. But this time, it is no longer smoke and mirrors. It is under construction.

Most major first-phase projects are targeted for completion by the end of 2027, although some work extends into 2028. Then comes the next question: will everything be maintained? New facilities will not help if they are eventually allowed to fail. And while the newer US/Mexico agreement includes maintenance planning, that is the part I will keep watching.

The proof is in the pudding

In 2024, southern IB reached 1,000 consecutive days of closure. Since the rebuilt 18-million-gallon-per-day San Antonio de los Buenos treatment plant at Punta Bandera came online in April 2025, the picture has looked very different.

By August 6, 2026, IB beaches had been closed for more than 84 days that year—still far too many, but a remarkable change from a multi-year closure. Weather, currents and other improvements also matter, so one plant cannot claim all the credit. But treating roughly 18 million gallons per day that was previously discharged along the coast appears to be making a real difference.

What does this mean for Imperial Beach real estate?

Two of Imperial Beach’s last three mayors, Serge Dedina and Paloma Aguirre, made drawing attention to the crisis a defining priority. It worked. The issue now has national attention, major funding and commitments from both countries. But that publicity has also had a cost.

Buyers who search Imperial Beach online find years of sewage headlines. I have watched the crisis create hesitation and limit what buyers will pay relative to other beach communities. At this point, most people know about the problem. Far fewer know that the Mexican coastal plant is operating, U.S. treatment has increased and the larger expansion is underway.

In that gap between public perception and actual progress is where I see the biggest opportunity. IB remains one of the few San Diego beach communities with “affordable” pricing. If these projects work—and are maintained—I think people betting on Imperial Beach will be happy they did.

How can I learn more?

The projects are outlined in Minute 328, the 2022 construction agreement, and Minute 333, which adds monitoring, future planning and long-term maintenance.  Or reach out and I can try to point you in the right direction!