Juarez, Mexico, for example, with a population of more than 1.2 million, has never had a public sewer treatment plant and produces 75 million gallons of raw sewage each day. The Rio Grande downstream from El Paso-Juarez is considered unsafe for swimming as a result of pollution, and many stretches of the river are unsafe for contact with human skin, according to the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission. To foster binational cooperation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Mexico organized Border XXI, a program to improve environmental conditions, natural resource management and human health. EPA Region 6, which includes the valley area, also funds the Rio Grande Alliance, an international forum that fosters communication between the agencies and other interests within the Rio Grande basin. The North American Development Bank was created to fund environmental projects.
Air quality is an issue, especially because of increased traffic.
Air is a problem. Mexican fuel is lower-grade than in the United States, which could create more of a problem as trucks from Mexico travel farther into the United States. The proliferation of bridges to accommodate traffic is also destroying habitat and preventing wildlife from crossing the river, Campbell said. Bridges can be built well, but privately owned ones often give short shrift to environmental issues. And the number of bridges is likely to increase, Campbell said.