International Boundary and Water Commission

What International Boundary and Water Commission does

The U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) is a U.S. federal government agency established in 1889 under a binational treaty framework to manage water resources and boundary issues along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. Headquartered in El Paso, Texas, it operates 13 field offices across Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, plus a Washington D.C. Liaison Office. The agency administers water allocations from the Colorado and Rio Grande Rivers under the 1944 Water Treaty, operates international dams (Amistad, Falcon), wastewater treatment plants (South Bay International, Nogales International), flood control levee systems, and diversion infrastructure serving border communities, agricultural users, and municipalities. Its primary stakeholders are U.S. border communities (particularly the San Diego/Tijuana region affected by transboundary sewage), Rio Grande and Colorado River basin water users, and flood-prone border populations.

USIBWC's core technology platform consists of the AQUARIUS WebPortal Water Data Platform providing real-time hydrological data across the Rio Grande, Colorado, and Tijuana River Basins, and a comprehensive GIS Program supporting boundary mapping, project visualization, and levee improvement tracking. The agency also operates the Minute 328 Project Portal for tracking binational sanitation commitments. With over 130 years of continuous water data records, USIBWC maintains a longitudinal hydrological dataset that no competing entity can replicate. Recent operational milestones include the August 2025 expansion of the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant from 25 to 35 MGD capacity, completion of the Ozone Nanobubble pilot project on the Tijuana River in December 2025, and the July 2025 signing of binational Minute 333 with Mexico to permanently address the Tijuana River sewage crisis.

Name

International Boundary and Water Commission

Legal name

United States International Boundary and Water Commission

Website

https://ibwc.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The U.S. International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) is a federal agency, established in 1889, that manages U.S.-Mexico border water resources, operates international dams and wastewater treatment plants, and administers water allocations from the Rio Grande and Colorado Rivers under the 1944 Water Treaty.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Water Resource Management

NAICS

Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Sewage Treatment Facilities (221320), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG), Water Quality Monitoring, Compliance & Reporting (Sampling, Lab, Regulatory) (EUANAAAG), Water Resources & Watershed Protection (BPAGAGAK), Water & Wastewater Compliance (NPDES/Stormwater, Pretreatment, Drinking Water/SDWA) (EUAHABAB)

Keywords

• Transboundary water management
• Border water resources
• Wastewater treatment services
• Flood control infrastructure
• International water treaties

Headquarters

HQ city

El Paso

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (USIBWC) operates as a federal agency that manages transboundary water resources along the U.S.-Mexico border under the 1944 Water Treaty. It allocates water from the Rio Grande and Colorado rivers, operates international wastewater treatment plants (including the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant), maintains flood control levee systems, and provides public access to real-time water and hydrological data through the AQUARIUS-based Water Data Portal and GIS Program.

Product overview

The International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is a U.S. federal agency, not a technology product company. Its 'products and services' consist of government programs and infrastructure for managing water resources along the 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border. The core offerings include: the Water Data Portal (AQUARIUS-based interactive platform for real-time water/hydrological data), the GIS Program (geospatial mapping and project visualization), the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant (sanitation infrastructure), the Minute 328 Project Portal (binational project tracking), the Citizens Forum Program (public engagement meetings), and FOIA request processing services. These operate as separate government programs rather than a unified software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water Data Portal Interactive web portal providing agency water data within the Rio Grande, Colorado, and Tijuana River Basins. Serves as the primary public access point for real-time river conditions, water records, and hydrological data along the U.S.-Mexico border region.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 90% reduction in untreated wastewater reaching San Diego/Tijuana coast through Minute 328 projects
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025SNWA presented on water conservation efforts including reductions over time at Colorado River Citizens Forum. Collaborates on Colorado River Basin water management and drought resilience initiatives.
• Imperial Irrigation DistrictmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 August 2025Imperial Irrigation District hosts Colorado River Citizens Forum meetings at their board room in El Centro, CA. Collaborates on Salton Sea funding agreements and Lower Colorado River Basin operations.
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2025USIBWC and EPA are jointly implementing the 100% solution to permanently end the Tijuana River sewage crisis. The agencies released quarterly updates on Minute 333 implementation and are coordinating the South Bay International Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin participated in MOU signing ceremony with Mexico to address decades-long sewage crisis.
• Mexico Section of IBWCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 July 2025Binational partner for all water management activities along the U.S.-Mexico border. Jointly implements Minute 328 sanitation projects, Minute 331 water deliveries, Minute 333 sewage solutions, and operates international dams and wastewater treatment plants under the 1944 Water Treaty.
• Sonora Institute (Sonoran Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2025Sonora Institute presents on Colorado River restoration efforts under Minute 323 and environmental restoration projects along the Colorado River Delta. Collaborates on ecological effects monitoring and habitat restoration.
• The Nature Conservancy of MexicominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2025The Nature Conservancy of Mexico collaborates on environmental restoration and ecological effects projects along the Colorado River, presenting on hydrologic system responses, vegetation, and wildlife to habitat and flow restoration in the Colorado River Delta.
• U.S. Bureau of ReclamationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 August 2024Ongoing collaboration on Rio Grande Project Area drought resilience efforts, sediment disposal programs, and Bureau of Reclamation grant opportunities for border water infrastructure.
• North American Development Bank (NADB)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 June 2023NADB presents on wastewater projects aimed at preventing transboundary flows in Nogales area. Partnered on Estadio Pump Station project updates and Naco wastewater collection system improvements. Discussed Los Alisos wastewater treatment plant expansion in Mexico to reduce wastewater flows into U.S.
• Bureau of ReclamationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 May 2023Bureau of Reclamation provides system status updates for Lower Colorado River Basin including hydrology, operations, projections, and drought response actions. Collaborates on Glen Canyon Dam operations, Lake Mead/Powell tiers, and annual operations decision-making.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Texas Water Development Board: State agency financing and planning water supply and infrastructure projects in Texas, including the Lower Rio Grande region where USIBWC operates flood control and water allocation infrastructure.
• Imperial Irrigation District: Largest Colorado River water rights holder in the U.S., hosting Citizens Forum meetings and partnering with USIBWC on Lower Colorado River Basin operations and Salton Sea funding.
• Bureau of Indian Affairs - Water Resources: Federal program managing tribal water rights and infrastructure, comparable in scope and regulatory approach to USIBWC's basin-level water administration responsibilities.

Direct peers

• International Joint Commission (U.S. and Canada): Binational body managing U.S.-Canada boundary waters under treaty, structurally and functionally analogous to USIBWC for the U.S.-Mexico border.
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: Federal agency managing water resources and infrastructure in the western U.S., with whom USIBWC directly collaborates on Colorado River and Rio Grande operations, drought response, and dam management.
• North American Development Bank (NADB): Binational financial institution funding water and wastewater infrastructure along the U.S.-Mexico border, partnering with USIBWC on projects such as the Estadio Pump Station and Los Alisos treatment plant.
• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: Operates dams, levees, and flood control infrastructure across the U.S., overlapping with USIBWC's flood control and water infrastructure mission along the border.

Others

• Southern Nevada Water Authority: Regional water utility collaborating with USIBWC on Colorado River conservation efforts and presenting at the Colorado River Citizens Forum.
• National Water Reuse Association: Industry and policy organization advancing water reuse practices relevant to USIBWC's transboundary wastewater treatment mandate.

Broad incumbents

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Federal environmental regulator that jointly implements the 100% Solution for the Tijuana River crisis with USIBWC, sets the broader water quality standards USIBWC must enforce, and funds related infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/usibwc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCkZCCKEf3ERanugmTBBrisg
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php?id=61587557578563

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Boundary and Water Commission