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East County News ServicesAug. 28, 2025 (San Diego County) -- San Diego County Supervisors Paloma Aguirre and Joel Anderson (photo, left) are praising the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board for approving a cease-and-desist order that will expand treatment capacity at the International Boundary and Water Commission's South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The order authorizes the plant to treat an additional 10 million gallons per day, increasing 25 million gallons to 35 million gallons, a major step toward reducing untreated sewage flows through the Tijuana River Valley.
Aguirre, who represents District 1, is Chair Pro Tem; Anderson oversees District 2.
"South Bay families have been forced to live with toxic pollution for years now," Sups. Aguirre and Anderson wrote in a joint statement.
"This cease-and-desist order is an urgently needed step to protect public health and finally bring some relief to South Bay residents. We want to thank the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (SDRWQCB) for approving the cease-and-desist order to expand treatment capacity at the International Boundary and Water Commission's South Bay plant. This is an important step forward."
In their statement, Sups. Anderson and Aguirre (photo, below right) call for urgent action at the "Saturn Boulevard hotspot," urging the SDRWQCB to immediately coordinate with the County of San Diego to expedite a major maintenance project at this critical location, where hydrogen sulfide and other toxic gases continue to threaten community health.
The Saturn Boulevard hotspot is an area near the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park where environmental pollution, specifically for high levels of toxic gases and chemicals, including hydrogen sulfide, which are released from the Tijuana River."Beyond expanding treatment capacity, we must fix the Saturn Boulevard hotspot now," Aguirre said. "This project will reduce turbulence, restsore natural flow and directly lessen airborne hazards that are making our children, seniors and visitors sick. The Water Board should hand-in-hand with the county to cut red tape and deliver these protections as quickly as possible."
"I'm pleased to have worked closely with Supervisor Aguirre on this important issue to our County and our region. By working together, we are providing solutions to the most challenging issues," Anderson said.
Aguirre emphasized that while the expanded treatment capacity will help reduce cross-border sewage flows, immediate, practical fixes -- like the Saturn Boulevard project -- are necessary to provide some relief to impacted South Bay neighborhoods.
The call to action comes as a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies confirm high illness rates directly tied to sewage exposure in South County -- with more than 70 percent of surveyed residents reporting health impacts.
The supervisors' statement said that families, farm workers, U.S. Navy personnel and Border Patrol officers continue to face dangerous conditions caused by toxic gases released when untreated sewage overwhelms local infrastructure. Approving these measures will not only protect public health, but also reopen beaches, support military readiness and restore long-overdue community trust.
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