The Border: Sharing a Problem and a Solution

Abstract

The Tijuana River flows through two countries. It passes through the <br /><br />poverty-stricken but growing community of Tijuana, Mexico and southern San <br /><br />Diego County where it empties into the Tijuana Estuary. Raw sewage from Tijuana <br /><br />and the surrounding watershed is dumped into the river as it flows to the Pacific <br /><br />Ocean. Littoral currents transport the waste north to beaches in San Diego County, <br /><br />creating health risks and forcing beach closures. Repeated attempts to remedy the <br /><br />situation have been made since 1930, however, successful sewage treatment has <br /><br />not been attained. Lack of money from Mexico and different standards for sewage <br /><br />treatment between the United States and Mexico have made this situation difficult <br /><br />to remedy.