# Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act of 2021

The Tijuana River and the New River flow across the U.S.-Mexico border, and both are severely polluted. This bill creates federal programs to clean up these rivers and protect public health on both sides of the border. The main problem is that raw sewage, stormwater, chemicals, and trash flow from Mexico into the United States, contaminating beaches, harming wildlife, and making people sick. The City of Imperial Beach has had to close its beaches about one-third of every year because the water is unsafe. Border Patrol agents have reported over 100 cases of rashes, infections, chemical burns, and lung problems from exposure to these toxic flows. The bill establishes restoration programs for both rivers and authorizes federal funding to work with Mexican authorities, state and local governments, and conservation groups to fix the problem.

The bill creates two main restoration programs. The Tijuana River program focuses on stopping pollution from flowing north from Tijuana, Mexico into San Diego County. The New River program addresses pollution flowing from Mexicali, Mexico into California's Imperial Valley and eventually the Salton Sea. Both programs require detailed water quality plans, annual budgets, and regular progress reports. The bill also establishes a border water infrastructure program to improve pipes, treatment plants, and stormwater systems on both sides of the border. The programs emphasize using natural solutions like wetlands and retention structures alongside traditional infrastructure improvements.

The bill gives the Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department authority to work with Mexican officials through the International Boundary and Water Commission to coordinate cleanup efforts. Federal money can be used for grants and agreements with local agencies and conservation organizations to implement restoration projects. This is a long-term commitment—the bill recognizes that the U.S. has already invested $250 million in wastewater treatment but that much more is needed. For people living near these rivers, especially in San Diego and Imperial Valley communities, this bill means the federal government is finally dedicating sustained resources to make the water safe for swimming, fishing, and recreation again.

Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act of 2021

Vargas, Juan

Border Water Quality Restoration and Protection Act of 2021 This bill establishes programs that address water pollution along the U.S.-Mexico border. Specifically, the bill requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish the Tijuana River Public Health and Water Quality Restoration Program. Under the program, the EPA must plan, implement, coordinate, and provide grants for public health and water quality restoration and protection activities in the Mexican Tijuana River watershed and the American Tijuana River watershed in California. In addition, the EPA must establish the California New River Public Health and Water Quality Restoration Program to plan, implement, coordinate, and provide grants for water quality restoration and protection activities in the New River watershed. Finally, the bill provides statutory authority for the U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program to provide assistance for activities related to the construction of infrastructure for drinking water treatment or distribution, wastewater management, or stormwater management.