WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema applauded today’s settlement agreement between Arizona, the United States, and Mexico on payment for wastewater infrastructure improvements on an international sewage pipe that flows from Mexico to Nogales, Arizona.
“Today’s agreement protects the health and safety of Nogales families by improving water quality and managing sewage flow,” said Sinema.
The City of Nogales has continually tried to seek federal funds and additional ownership responsibility from the U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) for necessary infrastructure improvements on an international sewage pipe that flows from Mexico to Nogales, Arizona. Families in Nogales have faced challenges with untreated wastewater coming from Mexico into Arizona rivers and overflowing into streets during storm events. Before today’s agreement, the U.S. and Mexico only focused on emergency repairs and cleanup but did not address the improvements needed for the international sewage pipeline. The unmaintained sewage pipeline has affected public health, the environment, and local economy in Nogales, Arizona.
Earlier this Congress, Sinema helped introduce the Nogales Wastewater Fairness Act, which was introduced last Congress by Arizona Senator John McCain. Sinema’s Nogales Wastewater and Fairness Act directs the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission to charge Nogales a more equitable portion of costs for the pipe, commensurate with average daily sewage contribution. It also asserts that Nogales will not be obligated to contribute any funding for the purpose of repairing or upgrading the project in the future.
