Dr. Rogelio Montemayor Seguy, Governor of the State of Coahuila commended BECC’s progress during the BECC’s XVI Board of Directors Meeting. Dr. Seguy considered such progress satisfactory now that it has established a set of criteria guidelines allowing for the certification of 21 infrastructure projects worth $473 million and benefiting seven million people.

He stated that this organization implements its tasks with increased efficiency, enabling it to face new challenges along the border. This allows BECC projects, which require the design of financial frameworks in small border communities who lack resources, to have quick access to financial sources for their environmental infrastructure needs.

Dr. Montemayor, who was a founding member of the BECC Board of Directors, mentioned that it was imperative that attention be given to environmental deficiencies that require financing formulas or strategies that increases the capacity of underrepresented communities to access financing capital. Some of these financing strategies should include, according to the Governor, technical assistance grants.

BECC’s General Manager, Mr. Javier Cabrera stated that his organization has promoted "…the transparency of the certification process and access to information. We have achieved greater coordination with State and Federal institutions of Mexico and the United States, and we have increased our ability to provide technical assistance to communities which request it." Mr. Cabrera stressed that the differences between the two countries require respectful cooperation to identify and serve common needs.

Mr. Cabrera requested Governor Montemayor to express to the ten Border Governors meeting in Brownsville last June 25, "… the disposition and commitment of the BECC to work closely with the governors of the ten border states which form part of this dynamic and intense region."

Meanwhile, during the XVI Public Meeting which took place in the Emilio Talamas Room of the Autonomous University of Coahuila in Saltillo, the Board of Directors certified three projects worth about $131 million benefiting 117, 353 people. With the certification of these three projects, the BECC has certified a total of 24 environmental infrastructure projects (13 on the U.S. side and 11 on the Mexican side) worth more than $600 million.

The designation of Ricardo Castanon as BECC Director of the Public Information Department was among the important announcements during the reunion. This new department is part of the organization’s new vision and plays a strategic role in public participation processes and information along the border.

Mr. Castanon is recognized for his work related to NAFTA impacts along the border, as well as strengthening public participation in political processes in the United States, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Prior to joining BECC, Mr. Castanon was Director of the William C. Velasquez Institute office in El Paso and Los Angeles were he worked on voter registration, education and research projects in U.S. Hispanic communities as well as in community economic development and environmental projects in border communities affected by NAFTA.

The three certified projects in Saltillo, of which one is in California and the remaining two in Texas are:

Step II has a cost of $24.8 million and Step III will cost 72.8 million. Both have received $81.4 million from several U.S. agencies such as the Texas Water Development Board, Rural Development and the Texas Department of Housing Affairs. Step III financing is insufficient to cover all costs. With BECC certification, the Water District is able to request $17.5 million in BEIF funds from the NADB, the bulk of these funds to be used in Step III. The remaining funds would come from the NADB’s IDP to cover debt service costs to the Texas Water Development Board in Step II. Additionally, the BECC will assist with $498,000 in technical assistance. The benefited population is close to 71,000 inhabitants.

The city of Calexico, which borders the city of Mexicali to the south, has a population of about 26,354. Its growth rate is between 4% and 5% annually. Its main source of water is the Colorado River. The city intends to upgrade the drinking water plant and distribution network to solve problems in the current plant and to satisfy growth demands to the year 2020. The project includes the rehabilitation and expansion of the current plant from 408lps to 700lps; construction of a 24 inch 6 km main line; water storage tank with a capacity of 22,700 cubic meters and a pumping station.

With these projects the city of Calexico will correct problems in the drinking water system and prevent potential health risks. The total cost is $11.3 million. BECC will assist with resources from its Technical Assistance Program for the implementation of Steps II and III. The city requested funds for this project from the Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) and the Institutional Development Program (IDP) of the North American Development Bank (NADB) to cover the costs of servicing the debt for seven years.

The city of Donna is located between McAllen and Harlingen, in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, and borders the State of Tamaulipas near the city of Rio Bravo. The project consists of the construction of a potable water plant with a capacity of 197lps which will substitute and obsolete 80 year old plant; a high tank of 757,000 liters; expansion of the drinking water distribution system for the neighboring Colonias; replacement of the potable water pipes; rehabilitation and expansion of the wastewater treatment plant from 101lps to 118lps and expansion of the sewer system to neighboring Colonias.

The cost of the project is $21.6 million and will benefit more than 20,000 residents. The city is requesting grant assistance from Border Environment Infrastructure Fund (BEIF) and the Institution Development Program (IDP) from the North American Development Bank (NADBank) to cover the costs of servicing the debt for seven years. A condition that the user fee study is made available for public viewing was imposed by the Board of Directors.

Through its Technical Assistance Program, the BECC has approved $8.3 million in assistance benefiting forty-five communities on each side of the border. This program supports master plan development, design, environmental assessments, and financial feasibility studies, as well as the development of public participation programs.

The BECC Executive Committee of the Board of Directors approved on 6 May six requests for technical assistance from the Program Development Assistance Plan for $10 million. This program is supported by the Environmental Protection Agency with $10 million to assist in the development of water related projects. These approved requests are:

The Heber Public Water District, California. Feasibility study and Step II of water and sanitation project for $250,000.

Chaparral, New Mexico. Development, preliminary engineering, financial feasibility study and institutional strengthening of sanitation project for $150,000.

Tecate, Baja California. Preliminary engineering, institutional strengthening and Step II for water and sanitation services for $150,000.

San Luis Rio Colorado (Ecobosque). Master Plan, engineering review and financial feasibility for sanitation project for $275,000.

Agua Prieta, Sonora. Water and Sanitation Master Plan for $100,000.

Sonoyta, Sonora. Water and Sanitation Master Plan for $100,000.

Presiding at the award ceremony was Agua Prieta’s Mayor, Vicente Teran Uribe. Ray Borane, Mayor of Douglas, Arizona; Manuel Ibarra Legarreta, Secretary of Urban and Ecology Infrastructure of Sonora and member of the BECC Advisory Council; Daniel Trelles, General Director of the Potable Water and Sewer Collection Commission of Sonora, and Javier Cabrera, BECC General Manager attended the meeting. Mr. Cabrera, who received on behalf of BECC a commendation for its support of this city, stated that this binational institution continuously seeks new forms of cooperation such as this one concluded with CNA.

The present water system in Agua Prieta has a 95% coverage, however the system is old and the tanks have storage deficiencies. The sewer collection system has 75% coverage and a wastewater treatment plant (two lagoons) whose capacity is insufficient.

The National Water Commission announced support of more than $360,000 to conduct cartographic studies and upgrade the public property register.

On 20 July in Hermosillo, BECC, the CNA and the NADB announced the allocation of $750,000 for the following studies:

• Water and Sanitation Master Plans for Imuris, Santa Ana and Magdalena supported by the Technical Assistance Program of BECC.
• Updating the cartographic and hydraulic networks by the CNA.
• Updating the user register and institutional strengthening by the NADB.

The meeting was presided by Mr. Manuel Ibarra Legarreta, Sonora’s Environment and Urban Infrastructure Secretary. Mr. Jaime Tinoco, CNA Coordinator of Border Affairs; Mr. Mario Rochin, City of Magdalena’s Mayor; Mr. Luis Alfredo Bernal, Mayor for the City of Santa Ana; the Municipal Secretary for the City of Imuris, Mr. Javier Perez; the Directors of the Water Boards of the three cities; the General Manager of BECC; Maria Josefina Guerrero BECC Advisory Council member; and representatives of NADB were all in attendance as well.

These studies will allow the detection of deficiencies and prioritize the measures necessary for the sanitation of the Magdalena River, which include the construction or rehabilitation of wastewater treatment plants as well as the expansion and rehabilitation of the sewer collection systems in these three municipalities.

During the meeting, a Committee to follow up on all the measures accorded was created in which all agencies involved will be represented.

Mr. Cabrera commended the effort and ability of the BECC through its Technical Assistance Program to address the Magdalena River pollution. BECC Advisory Council member Josefina Guerrero emphasized the need to promote environmental education as well as strengthening the development of a public participation process that seeks community consensus.

Currently in the State of Sonora projects certified by the BECC represent an investment of about $43.63 million. These projects include:

• Nogales: First phase of a potable water project with a cost of $39 million.
• Agua Prieta: municipal solid waste project with a cost of $1.9 million.
• Puerto Penasco: municipal solid waste project with a cost of $1.7 million.
• Naco: water and sanitation project with a cost of $1.03 million.

Projects considered for certification in the following months are water and sanitation for the cities of Agua Prieta, Nogales, Sonoyta and San Luis Rio Colorado, as well as a sanitation project in Cananea.

The BECC has supported Sonora through its Technical Assistance Program with more than $462,000. Through this program, border communities can receive grant support to develop and strengthen their projects. Financial and technical analysis, institutional strengthening, and opinion polls are some aspects supported.

The county commissioners of Dona Ana County, New Mexico accepted on June 15, three technical assistance awards from BECC’s Technical Assistance Program worth $700,000. These awards are part of a $2 million support package for the county approved by the BECC Board of Directors. The awards are:

County Administrator Fernando Macias stated that the support of the BECC "will contribute to the transformation of Dona Ana County regarding its wastewater management." During the signing ceremony, BECC Deputy General Manager, Peter Silva, commended the efforts of the County authorities and the BECC in preparing this support package that will permit the development of sanitation projects certifiable by the binational institution.

The Lower Valley Water District (LVWD) Board of Directors accepted this past August 13 a Technical Assistance award from the BECC worth $498,000. The president of the water board, Richard Sparks, presided over the event.

Teodora Trujillo, resident and member of the project’s steering committee, stated that thanks to the certification of the project and its support, the BECC has contributed significantly to the success of the project.

On 19 August the BECC and the Water and Sanitation Municipal Council (JMAS) of Ciudad Juarez signed a Technical Assistance Agreement to Upgrade the Master Plan for the Improvement of the Water Services, Sanitation and Sewer System. The project has an estimated cost of $100,000 and will cover the urban area including the Anapra zone.

• Assessment of the Water System.
• Establishment of Goals and Objectives.
• Gathering of Data and Relevant Information.
• Analysis of the Information.
• Solution Alternatives.
• Technical and Financial Analysis (cost-benefit ratio) of the alternatives.
• Selection of the Alternative.
• Recommendations.
• Implementation.

In Baja California, the BECC has certified three important environmental infrastructure projects with an approximate cost of $77.82 million. The projects include: a Water Sanitation Project in Ensenada, a Parallel Conveyance and Rehabilitation System for the San Antonio de los Buenos Treatment Plant in Tijuana, and a Comprehensive Water Sanitation Project for the city of Mexicali.

Furthermore, the State of Baja California has received assistance from BECC Technical Assistance Program with approximately $156,139 to conduct feasibility studies, project analysis and institutional strengthening for the cities of Tijuana and Mexicali. For 1999, BECC has scheduled the certification of a water and sanitation project for the city of Tecate.

Sanderson celebrated its first public consultation on the Sanderson Sanitation Project with over 50 residents attending the 28 July meeting. The meeting took place in the Terell County Courthouse. The meeting was presided by the local judge as well as the manager of the Terell County Water Control & Improvement District 1, and the Commissioner of Precinct 4 and member of the project’s steering committee. Representing the BECC were Ricardo Castanon, Public Participation Director; Bernardino Olague, Project Manager for this region and Jan Harmon, Environmental and Sustainable Development Review Manager.

Issues raised by the public at this meeting included the following:

• Time it will take to build the sewage collection system and the wastewater treatment plant.
• Life span of the projects.
• Expansion potential of the wastewater treatment lagoons and possibilities of reuse for irrigation.
• Production of sludge and their disposal or use.
• Ways in which the financial and technical aspects of the project may be impacted by not allowing the discharge of 100 percent of the wastewater produced by each user. This is due to the local custom of using excess latrine and septic tank wastewater to irrigate trees.
• Cost for the users of operating the sewage collection system and sanitation and for individual connection to the sewage system.
• Timetable for beginning the projects.
• Possibility for using local workers and contractors.
• Generation of foul odors.

BECC’s Public Participation Coordinator, Gonzalo Bravo, participated in the First Assembly of the Latin American Network of Watershed Organizations held last August 3-5, in Bogota. The International Network of Watershed Organizations, the International Water Office, and Cundinamarca’s Autonomous Regional Corporation organized the event. The assembly gathered delegates from 27 organizations in 18 countries, mostly from Latin America. The Mexican Institute of Water Technology, the World Bank, the Latin American Economic Commission and the Border Environment Cooperation Commission participated as observers.

The commitment to regional water administration through watershed organizations was taken at the Rio de Janeiro Meeting and Agenda XXI. Thus, the International Network of Water Organizations created in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico in 1996 is the umbrella organization for the Latin American Network of Watershed Organizations.

Regional water administration is a decentralized, integral and sustainable effort involving the three levels of government, elected representatives, users and non-governmental organizations. Institutional representatives and the most important water users of the region form part of a general planning and policy Council. In Mexico, these are known as Regional Watershed Councils

These councils function as assemblies or parliaments in which programs and policies are reviewed for long term sustainable use. More decentralized models such as the French, Colombian, northern Argentinian and Councils in Brazil, act as financial and collection entities. In these regions, the worst polluters pay and rewards are given to those who apply innovative anti-pollution measures and better resource management. Resources collected stay in the region and users are involved in setting user fee rates and investment projects.

A special case of sustainable development can be found in the Regional Autonomous Corporations of Colombia, which manage and administrate the natural resources by region. These corporations have regional planning autonomy with special emphasis on hydraulic resources and complementary involvement in the area of electrical and telephone resources. As autonomous corporations, they have their own budget and by law administrate their own environmental resources with a focus on sustainability. They act as superficial and underground water use permitting agencies, and receive 20-25% of the local property taxes.

BECC’s own Gonzalo Bravo participated in a panel on Environmental Administration chaired by Juan Manuel Aragones, President of the International Network of Water Organizations and of the Hydraulic Confederation of Jucar, Spain. Panelists included Raymundo Santos Garrido, Director of the Federal Water Administration of Brazil and Emiliano Rodriguez of Mexico, a World Bank Consultant.

The public participation presentation by BECC was a matter of great interest due to its contribution to raising the consciousness of the people and its environmental education component along the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo border watershed region.

Of special interest to BECC was a prevention and erosion reduction program in the region of Checua, located 80 kilometers north of Bogota. This program supported by the German government has a community participation component that guarantees their involvement in identifying problems and alternatives, development of cultivation techniques and appropriate technology use. This program was able to reduce in five years erosion activity in 17,000 hectares, and has had success in prevention measures by switching crops and less labor investment with the use of previous crop waste as fertilizer in 125,000 hectares.

The possibility of future cooperation and sharing of experiences was raised between the International and Latin American Network of Watershed Organizations and the BECC. Through the International Network’s information system, support from the International Water Office for BECC workshops and training sessions on water related issues along the border could be a possibility.

The BECC High Sustainable Development Workgroup is seeking model projects to feature in upcoming issues of BECC News. Projects that address water, wastewater or solid waste issues with innovative approaches should be submitted to Jan Harmon, Environmental and Sustainable Development Review Manager. The projects need not be restricted to the 62 km. zone on either side of the border, but should not be previous or pending BECC projects.