If approved by Congress, added funds for upgrade would prevent and reduce sewage flows and contamination in southern California.

While improvements to the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant in San Diego have begun, local officials stress more money will be needed to stop the raw sewage overflow problem in the cross-border area.

The agency that operates the plant is preparing to undertake $8 million in repairs, in addition to previously planned projects estimated to cost hundreds of millions more.

The U.S. and Mexico have formally enacted an agreement to invest $474 million across several projects geared toward reducing the amount of untreated sewage discharged into the Pacific Ocean near the border between San Diego and Tijuana.

Efforts to address water pollution and trash at border between U.S. and Mexico advance.