EL PASO –As part of routine water quality testing required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), El Paso Water detected E. coli in a raw groundwater sample taken from a well in East El Paso on Nov. 5. The sample was taken from the well water prior to the water entering the disinfection process and the water distribution system.

EPWater responded immediately by taking the well out of service and disinfecting it the same day.  The well, located at 95 Walter Jones Boulevard, serves residential and wholesale customers in East El Paso. This type of detection is rare within the EPWater system. The utility has an estimated 157 wells throughout the city and performs regular testing and monitoring of the water distribution system to assure water quality.

This event does not require a boil water notice, and the water is safe to drink. As a standard practice, the water pumped from this well is chlorinated at the Montana reservoir before it enters the distribution system. EPWater monitored chlorine levels at the reservoir, and levels are within TCEQ guidelines for safe drinking water. The utility is following TCEQ protocol to correct the issue and to provide public notification of information on E. coli as described below.

Important information about your drinking water

E. coli bacteria can make you sick and are a particular concern for infants, young children and people with weakened immune systems.

What should I do? What does this mean?

Fecal indicators are microbes whose presence indicates that the water may be contaminated with human or animal wastes. Microbes in these wastes can cause short-term health effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a special health risk for infants, young children, some of the elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems.

The symptoms above are not only caused by organisms in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice. Those with an increased risk should seek advice from their health care providers about drinking this water.

Corrective action: The affected well was immediately taken offline. El Paso Water is in the process of disinfecting this well.  When the disinfection process is complete, the well will be sampled to ensure the issue has been resolved.