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The Certified Water Partner program was developed in 2017 to positively engage the business community, large entities and local government/non-profit institutions to raise awareness of water efficiency practices and reduce water consumption.

A survey by the American Water Works Association reports that 72% of 416 water utilities nationwide are facing difficulties obtaining materials and other infrastructure components.

Water education and family fun will be the focus of El Paso Water’s upcoming collaboration with the University of Texas at El Paso.

El Paso Girl Scouts are quenching their thirst for knowledge about water conservation, and earning a patch from the TecH2O Learning Center in the process.

The Village of Vinton recently celebrated the commencement of a major project to bring first- time water and wastewater service to their community.

El Paso Water is a rare phenom in the water industry, as the utility’s female engineers in leadership continue to shatter barriers and build diversity.

El Paso’s Engineer of the Year Gilbert Trejo of El Paso Water has been learning about the water sector since he was 18 and cleaning canals in El Paso’s Lower Valley.

EPWater is implementing a multipronged river clean-up strategy with several partners to make sure that the Rio Grande and canals are ready for the new irrigation season.

Just days into the new year, crews began pumping wastewater into the newly replaced Frontera pipeline to the John T. Hickerson Water Reclamation Facility, which had been partially operating since August.

Nearly two years after the pandemic hit El Paso, the Carlos M. Ramirez TecH₂O Water Resources Learning Center remains closed to the public, but the educational outreach to students is flourishing.

When water freezes, it expands in volume by nearly 10%, that extra pressure can result in broken water lines that lead to costly repairs and water leaks at your home or business.

A 9% increase in water rates, a 13% increase in wastewater rates and 9% increase in stormwater fees would help El Paso Water reinforce infrastructure overdue for upgrades and expand systems to sustain city growth, EPWater officials told the Public Service Board.

Standing firmly on 22 acres of land next to the U.S. Mexico border, the Roberto R. Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant is celebrating 30 years of operation.

Some of the hardest working insects in the world may also be the most intimidating, but that did not stop El Paso Water from saving a bee colony containing tens of thousands of honeybees.

During this season of spooky stories and spine-chilling encounters, it is only fitting that one El Paso Water employee shared his experiences of paranormal activity while working at the Robertson/Umbenhauer Water Treatment Plant, also known as Canal Plant, several years ago.

The rain events of July and August 2021 proved to be some of the most significant rain events in the history of our region. While many of El Paso’s stormwater structures held up during the heavy rainfall, the localized severity of the storms – particularly in Central El Paso -- overwhelmed and damaged many parts of the system.

El Paso Water maintains more than 2,300 miles of wastewater pipes citywide that carry used water from toilets, showers and sinks to treatment plants. When a major part of that system ruptured in West El Paso, the utility faced some critical decisions to protect public safety and health.

This year’s monsoon season has brought intense rain events that have set records and drawn comparisons to the storm of 2006, and the season is not over yet. On August 12, part of Central El Paso received 3.2 inches of rain in one hour, equating to what the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) classifies as a 230-year storm. The same area in 2006 received 1.5 inches of rain in one hour, falling into the category of a 100-year storm.

Recent storms have tested parts of El Paso’s stormwater system, revealing both improvements still needed and the effectiveness of completed projects, like the Silver Springs Arroyo Dam, that worked to reduce flooding and increase public safety.

As part of National Water Quality Month, EPWater reminds customers that our tap water is safe to drink. To access the highest quality water, it’s as easy as turning on your faucet.

As the city expands, El Paso Water continues to invest in infrastructure to keep up with demand. The utility is taking on a major project that will optimize the existing plant by improving the wastewater treatment process and increase the plant’s capacity, extending its lifespan by 30 years.

As part of the emergency declaration of the stormwater system approved by the Public Service Board (PSB) on July 14, residents near the Sam Snead Recovery project in the Pico Norte area will soon see accelerated productivity on the job site.

There’s no doubt about it -- monsoon season is officially upon us. Beginning on June 27, a series of heavy rainstorms blanketed the borderland for several days, putting much of the city’s stormwater infrastructure to the test.

Through partnerships with Project BRAVO and Amistad, El Paso Water customers have received water bill assistance this year totaling $1.1 million. This funding was made possible because of federal CARES Act funding distributed by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the City of El Paso to Project BRAVO and Amistad, respectively.

The first phase of the Montana Vista Wastewater Project is nearly complete, with over 500 customers connected to the EPWater wastewater system for the very first time.

Millions of gallons of water travel through our desert city every day to ensure customers can open faucets, flush toilets, and maintain landscapes -- simple tasks that typically do not require a second thought. At El Paso Water, every employee carries the large responsibility of serving our community with the common goal of enhancing the vitality of El Paso.

During times of drought, we have to manage our wells carefully because every drop of water counts. That is why EPWater has been doing proactive well maintenance across the city since last fall in preparation for less river water this summer.

Last month, Stormwater Division Manager Gisela Dagnino was appointed to the state’s first Regional Flood Planning Group for the Upper Rio Grande Region, a group charged with identifying specific flood risks and strategies to improve public safety and reduce damages caused by flooding.

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of access to safe and reliable drinking water for health, hydration, and hygienic needs. Drinking Water Week, May 2-8, is an opportunity for us to recognize the vital role tap water plays in our daily lives, the infrastructure required to carry it to and from our homes and businesses and the hard work that goes into delivering quality drinking water to your tap.

The Van Buren Dam in Central El Paso has a fresh look thanks to an Earth Day clean-up event organized by City Rep. Alexsandra Annello.

In partnership with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and New Mexico State University (NMSU), EPWater’s TecH2O Center is offering two free virtual landscape workshops April 14 and 21 from 6-7 p.m. The workshops will provide tips on how to curate the perfect desert-friendly oasis.

The pipelines connecting the two facilities, called the Frontera Force Mains, carry millions of gallons of wastewater from approximately 150,000 residential and commercial customers on El Paso’s westside every day to be treated at the Hickerson Plant.

This year marks a huge milestone for El Paso Water – 30 years of conservation. El Paso’s Water Conservation Ordinance was implemented on April 1, 1991. The ordinance, along with El Paso Water’s conservation program have helped reduce water consumption by more than 30 percent over the last three decades.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global shutdown of businesses, leaving many buildings vacant for months. As the El Paso community slowly begins to reopen and reoccupy buildings, El Paso Water is urging property and business owners to be mindful of potential health risks posed by stagnant water in pipes and take steps to prevent contamination.

Spring is a time for growth and opportunity when we shake off the cold of winter and embrace warmer temperatures. In El Paso, it is also the time of year when our most precious resource is in high demand.

When a $209,000 check from El Paso Electric (EPE) arrived for energy efficiency improvements at the Jonathan Rogers Water Treatment Plant, it was a pleasant surprise – but one that involved nearly five years of coordination between EPWater and EPE.

El Paso Water has presented a $10,000 check to the University of Texas at El Paso and announced a new student research program established in honor of former utility President and CEO Ed Archuleta, who served for 24 years in that role and is recognized nationally for bold initiatives to build a sustainable water supply for El Paso.

The Will Ruth Pond is a vast stormwater project designed to collect over 114 million gallons of stormwater from nearby streets to prevent it from flowing into downstream neighborhoods. The project is a critical component of the EPWater stormwater plan to improve public safety, and it has not been without its share of challenges.

Continued drought has impacted the water supply El Paso receives from the Rio Grande. The city’s growth is also a factor in EPWater’s long-term water management planning to ensure the community has water for the future.

The planning process never stops for El Paso Water to secure a reliable water supply for future generations. The utility plays a leadership role in shaping the Far West Texas Water Plan, a 50-year regional water resources management plan that must be updated every five years, as required by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB).

A year of challenges was also a year of accomplishments for El Paso Water, as we successfully adapted our business practices to continue to provide reliable water, wastewater and stormwater services to customers.

Excavation work is done on the Upson Drive Water Main and Sanitary Sewer Improvements project in the Sunset Heights neighborhood.

The Sunset Heights Pump Station and Reservoir is made up of two tanks with the capability of holding up to eight million gallons of water.

Native vegetation and wildlife are slowly thriving in the Rio Bosque Wetlands Park in El Paso’s Lower Valley. The wetlands landscape is evolving, but much work remains to restore the site to its former historical splendor.

Seeking to minimize the need for large fee increases in the near future, the Public Service Board is considering a proposal that would add a $0.26 increase in stormwater fee to the residential customer’s monthly bill.

A 2% increase in both water and wastewater rates will help rehabilitate El Paso Water’s aging infrastructure and expand systems for city growth. President and CEO John Balliew and staff members presented the utility’s proposed Fiscal Year 2021-22 Water/Wastewater and Stormwater budgets to the Public Service Board on Nov. 30.

It has been nearly a year since El Paso Water marked the start of the Montana Vista Wastewater Project, a project bringing first-time wastewater service to the Far East El Paso community. So far, EPWater has completed service line installations for more than half of customers in the project’s first phase, about 429 customers. In addition to the completed wastewater lines, about 440 residences have partially completed lines.

The San Lorenzo Stormwater and Wastewater Improvement Project will remove an old and deteriorating stormwater pipe along San Lorenzo Drive and replace it with a newer, more durable pipe. A wastewater line that conflicts with the alignment of the stormwater system will also be replaced.

Sending fats, oils, and greases down your drain can causes blockages in pipes.

The next river water allocation from the Rio Grande is months away, but it is crunch time for El Paso Water to ensure the utility is prepared for an anticipated shorter river water season. In September, the Public Service Board approved the drilling of six additional wells to increase our groundwater supply as a proactive measure to meet water demands at the hottest time of the year.

According to property repair experts, a broken ½ inch water pipe could spill as much as 50 gallons per minute depending on the size of the break. EPWater urges customers to protect their pipes in cooler weather.

Water is not typically synonymous with the desert, but for El Paso Water, the two go hand in hand. The utility’s leadership is helping pave the way for EPWater to remain at the forefront of water reuse.

El Paso Water wants to help you conserve water and at the same time save money. More time indoors means do-it-yourself home improvement projects are on the rise.

Residents of a Lower Valley community are once again welcoming the feel and smell of freshly watered grass at Thomas Manor Park after a recent transformation that will benefit the surrounding neighborhoods.

El Paso builders and developers can now complete basic utility work such as manhole installations and fire hydrant relocations that previously only El Paso Water crews were allowed to perform.

El Paso Water’s Willie the Water Drop is coming to a small screen near you, urging preschoolers to use water wisely at home. The short videos will feature Willie engaging with April Lopez, Water Conservation Specialist, immersing young viewers in conservation lessons, with plenty of positive reinforcement thrown in for good measure.

The Upson Drive Main Improvement Project will remove and replace the existing water and wastewater mains and service lines within the Sunset Heights Historic District. But the nature of the ground in this area presented engineers with a major obstacle.

With the exception of some of the older ones, El Paso Water’s elevated water storage tanks are understated. But in far east El Paso, the 2.5 MG Ranchos Real Tank stands out from the rest.

El Paso Water launched the design of a new project to take treated Rio Grande water during plentiful years and use it to recharge a local aquifer.

Technology employed at El Paso Water’s Frontera Lift Station continues to draw the international spotlight – this time from the recent 2020 Water Environment Federation (WEF) Collections System Digital Conference.

A restoration of the Sunset Heights Pump Station and Reservoir was already part of El Paso Water’s capital improvement plan. After all, the facility built in the early 1920s is one of El Paso Water’s oldest structures. But then the earthquake happened.

On Monday April 20, six homes connected to the new Montana Vista Wastewater System, which will bring first-time wastewater service to nearly 800 homes in a first phase.

In the Chihuahuan Desert of El Paso, there is comfort in knowing that EPWater’s critical facilities are staffed and operational during the current health crisis. The utility provides safe drinking water that we all can trust, eliminating the need to purchase bottled water. 

Shady, colorful desert plants dot landscapes across the city, where large, water-wasting lawns are no longer the standard. For nearly 30 years, El Pasoans have been doing their part to conserve our most precious resource in the Chihuahuan Desert.

With the shortage of toilet paper due to the coronavirus outbreak, many people are turning to wipes and paper towels instead. Disinfection wipes are used in every household as people try to sanitize anything and everything 24/7. But before you try to flush them down the toilet, heed this warning: there is no such thing as a flushable wipe.

EPWater invests money in state-of-the-art equipment and facilities, tests water continuously through all phases of treatment and distribution to the customer, and ensures employees receive training in the leading water quality practices and technologies.

Companies selling home filtration systems may allege that El Paso tap water is unsafe to drink. But El Pasoans have every reason to be confident in their tap water quality.

At EPWater, more and more women are now working in positions traditionally held by men.

El Paso Water presented a check for $25,000 to the City of El Paso at their Council Meeting on Feb. 18 to help make more municipal buildings water efficient.

Residents along Sam Snead Drive in El Paso are looking forward to improved flood control as El Paso Water overhauls the stormwater system in the Pico Norte area.

The Public Service Board (PSB) approved the El Paso Water Budget for fiscal year 2020-21. There is no increase to stormwater fees, but the new budget includes a 5% increase to water and wastewater rates. Beginning March 1, the average residential customer will see an increase of about $2.81 on their monthly bill.

Customers usually know exactly what they’re getting for their money when they receive a bill. Most can glance at the pump for the price of gas, look at a list of items at the grocery checkout or they know how much data is in their phone plan. But do you know what you’re getting for your monthly El Paso Water bill?

El Paso Water invested $1.9 million in the first phase of Pico Norte Stormwater Pond improvements. As a result, over 1,100 properties were officially removed from the FEMA flood zone.

For decades, employees have been sharing ghost stories of the multiple sightings reported at the Robertson/Umbenhauer Plant – dubbed the Canal Plant by locals.

At the September Public Service Board meeting, EPWater detailed its latest innovation to provide load-shifting capability that enables certain wastewater streams to shift from one treatment plant to another.

El Paso Water is one step closer to building the Advanced Water Purification Facility (AWPF) after the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded the utility a $3.5 million grant through the congressionally-authorized Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Projects.

When the Rio Grande stopped flowing last fall, employees of the Jonathan Rogers Water Treatment Plant took advantage to do some major work to the four Archimedes screw pumps at the facility.

For decades, El Paso Water has been using Granular Activated Carbon to remove substances that generate color and smell in untreated river water. But how do you measure which products do the best job? After all, smell and sight are subjective. Does the nose know best?

The new program administered by Amistad helps El Paso Water customers who are low-income seniors with emergency financial assistance and conservation support. So far, more than 100 El Paso Water customers have been helped and hundreds of water-efficient showerheads have been distributed.

EPWater developed an agreement to provide the City of El Paso with a $25,000 grant to assist them in adjusting, repairing or replacing inefficient plumbing fixtures identified in the audit.

EPWater crews work on El Paso’s stormwater system year-round. So when storm events occur, they are available to respond quickly to public requests to pump water and remove debris. The illegally-dumped trash not only slows down the process, but it also hurts the system.

Teeming with the benefits of a winter and spring’s bumper snowpack, El Paso Water is finally welcoming the Rio Grande. At long last, water released from Caballo Reservoir on May 31 is flowing into EPWater’s two river water facilities, said Water Supply Manager Ruben Rodriguez. Although EPWater is expecting half of its normal river water allocation.

Over the past three decades, El Paso Water has partnered with industrial businesses to reduce the amount of pollutants released into the wastewater system. Setting standards for what enters the system helps the utility control the treatment process and guarantees that water released to the Rio Grande will positively contribute to the natural ecosystem.

“I think it’s very exciting for El Pasoans to know that what we’re doing here in El Paso is going to change the water industry,” Gilbert Trejo, Chief Technical Officer, said. “The water community knows and understands that these treatment processes treat the water and produce a very high-quality water."