A federal spending package provided $250 million for repairs and expansion at the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant near the border.
The plant had been unable to consistently handle sewage flows from Tijuana, contributing to contaminated water, beach closures and persistent odor concerns in Imperial Beach and nearby communities.
The appropriation added critical construction money, though local officials and residents stressed that dependable operations, cross-border coordination and long-term monitoring would determine whether conditions actually improved.