Citizens Forum Meeting to Discuss Sewage Spill, Recycled Water

The United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) has scheduled a public meeting of the USIBWC Citizens Forum at the Tijuana Estuary Meeting Room on May 10.

The meeting will address regional water supply issues and an April 5 affecting the Tijuana River. The purpose of the Citizens Forum is to promote the exchange of information between the USIBWC and the community about Commission projects and related activities.

Amy Dorman with the City of San Diego will speak about water supply and delivery challenges for the San Diego region and some of the projects envisioned to develop local reliable water resources. She will also discuss the new Advanced Water Purification Facility and its impact on growth and water supply in the area.

Dave Fogerson with the San Diego County Water Authority will provide an overview of current binational efforts underway to study how a binational desalination plant in Rosarito, Mexico could have benefits to water users in both countries. This study is being conducted by both U.S. and Mexican water agencies and is part of larger binational efforts to review a number of Colorado River water supply augmentation projects, operations, and management practices.

In other business, USIBWC Area Operations Manager Steve Smullen will discuss a pump station failure at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant that caused a sewage spill to the Tijuana River on April 5. He will also explain how actions related to this pump station failure resulted in increased flow in the Tijuana River in the United States comprised of stormwater runoff and effluent from two Mexican water reclamation plants.

Members of the public who would like more information about the meeting may call 619-662-7600 or e-mail sally.spener@ibwc.gov.