San Diego County has taken another step toward addressing the ongoing Tijuana River pollution crisis after the Board of Supervisors approved the first phase of a project to develop a wastewater treatment system on U.S. soil.

The measure, approved Tuesday in a 4-1 vote, includes conceptual engineering and feasibility studies to determine how to build a system capable of capturing and treating contaminated flows entering the United States from Mexico.

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Pollution from the Tijuana River has led to prolonged beach closures across South County for years and raised concerns about water quality and public health. According to recent reports, some beaches in the region have remained closed for more than 1,300 consecutive days because of contamination.

The project could require a significant investment and is part of local efforts to develop an additional solution to the binational infrastructure currently used to collect and treat some of the wastewater flowing from Tijuana.

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The decision comes as authorities on both sides of the border continue working to reduce sewage spills and improve the infrastructure used to carry and treat wastewater.

The Tijuana River pollution crisis remains one of the most pressing environmental and public health issues affecting communities on both sides of the San Diego-Tijuana border.