NADB signs a US$2.42 million grant agreement

The North American Development Bank (NADB) and the local water utility, Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Tijuana (CESPT) have signed a US$2.42 million grant agreement to continue the rehabilitation of a deteriorated section of the collector main “Colector Poniente”, located in the northwestern area of the city of Tijuana, and to help reduce transboundary wastewater flows affecting the Cali-Baja region.

The grant is being provided through the Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF), which is financed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and administered by NADB.

The project with a total estimated cost of US$6.46 million and certified by the NADB Board of Directors this past May 30th, will replace a deteriorated section referred to as 1A of the wastewater infrastructure that is prone to leaks and failure.

“NADB has been working closely with CESPT and EPA and other federal agencies in both countries to help resolve untreated wastewater flows affecting Tijuana and San Diego communities,” stated NADB Managing Director Alex Hinojosa. “The grant funding provided by EPA to study and analyze infrastructure options with the goal of preventing transboundary flows also protects shared water sources, as well as the health of residents.”

NADB has proactively been working since 2016 with local, state and federal governments to be part of the solution to address the spills of raw wastewater discharges to the Tijuana River. Over the past 25 years, the bank has participated in water and wastewater projects worth close to $142 million in the Tijuana-Rosarito region.

Original source: NADB
Published on 06 June 2019