SAN DIEGO (KGTV) -- The EPA has announced several short-term projects to stop cross-border sewage spills in the Tijuana River Valley.
For years, the area has been dealing with sewage spills and contaminated waters in the area, forcing the closure of local beaches.
Some of the projects announced Wednesday include replacing nearly a mile of old leaking pike, improvement to the pumping systems to divert sewage flow away from the Tijuana River Valley, and replacing collectors that had repeatedly collapsed in the past.
One of the grants will divert 10-million gallons of wastewater flow a day.
Mayors from costal cities like Imperial Beach and Coronado and Border Patrol officials joined the EPA during their announcement, sharing how the contaminated waters have impacted their communities.
As a result of these short-term fixes, Imperial Beach mayor Serge Dedina says the beaches are now open.
EPA official say the money for these projects come from 2020 funding. There are long-term projects in the work and will be funded by the $300 million designated from the U.S - Mexico- Canada trade deal.
