Senate committee advances SB 10 to allow toll alignment for funding cross‑border wastewater infrastructure

Sen. Padilla presented SB 10, a permissive measure that would allow parties to dedicate toll revenues from a planned East Otay Mesa toll road—subject to agreement with the federal government and subordinate to existing bond and indenture payments—to support operation, maintenance and related sanitation projects for the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant and other infrastructure that intercepts pollution flows from Tijuana.

Padilla said communities in South San Diego County have endured cross‑border pollution impacts for years, including billions of gallons of untreated sewage and industrial contaminants entering U.S. waterways. He described the international treatment plant, overseen under a binational treaty and the International Boundary and Water Commission, as overwhelmed by unexpectedly high flows and lacking a sustainable funding source for operations and maintenance; he said existing funding has often come from episodic federal allocations.

Patrick McDonough of San Diego Coastkeeper testified in support, describing ecological damage in the Tijuana Estuary, low dissolved oxygen measurements and local air‑quality impacts tied to sewage. He said prior funds intended for expansion were diverted to basic repairs after Tropical Storm Hillary, leaving unmet needs for expansion and for ongoing operations funding. Local governments and port entities — including the City of Coronado, Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista — also testified in support.

Padilla stressed the bill is permissive and would not interrupt transportation financing; any dedication would be negotiated and subordinate to federal requirements. The committee recorded the motion to pass the bill to Appropriations; the committee tally recorded on the roll call was 11 ayes and 3 no votes.