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An array of flora and fauna welcome up to 5,000 visitors annually to the TecH2O Learning Center’s wildlife habitat, where desert cottontail, bobcats and rattlesnakes roam freely. Oh, my!

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.

In 2018, 91 children drowned in Texas – children ranging in age from 7 months to 17 years. The El Paso Fire Department, El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1, National Weather Service and Drowning Prevention Coalition of El Paso joined EPWater to spread the urgent message that intense rains can quickly turn treacherous.

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.

At a May 15 news conference held at the El Paso Zoo, Assistant County Attorney Cristina Viesca-Santos said her office takes environmental crimes seriously. In 2018, they prosecuted six cases regarding illegal dumping and they are on pace to double that this year with five prosecuted so far.

As the nation celebrates Infrastructure Week, the Kay Bailey Hutchison (KBH) Desalination Plant is operating with recently replaced reverse osmosis membranes, a water infrastructure investment that protects water quality. By properly running and maintaining the facility, the original membranes lasted an impressive 12 years and processed over 21 billion gallons of water.

“This is quite an honor for the zoo to be recognized as a Conservation Hero,” Wilson said. “We do our best to inspire people to adopt ways to preserve our natural resources. The zoo took the right steps by installing low-flow toilets, metered sinks and using reclaimed water for irrigation.”

Hundreds of water industry experts and researchers converged for the second annual Two Nations One Water summit April 24-25 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, prepared to foster a dialogue on solutions for water management. U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small of New Mexico quickly set the tone during her welcome speech for the summit. “Everyone in this room here today is here because you know the future of the West largely depends on one thing – water,” Torres Small said.

Are you excited about water? El Paso Water is hosting a 2019 Water Festival and the only question you need to ask yourself is, “What do I want to experience first?” With so many activities scheduled, EPWater's Water Festival is generating quite the buzz online and staff are expecting a record turn-out. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 27 at the TecH2O Learning Center.

As the city waits to receive its shortened river supply in June, El Paso Water is closing in on a May 1 deadline to prime eight new wells for pumping fresh water into the distribution system. Visitors to a well-equipping event were privy to the behind-the-scenes action taken to prepare Well 42A, one of the eight wells included in EPWater's Drought Resolution Program.

An unusual visitor started making regular appearances at the construction site of the Thomas Manor Park Pond Improvement project a few months ago. As construction workers and engineers worked to deepen the pond and expand the stormwater infrastructure, they discovered an owl in the area.

“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."

On April 4, four El Paso Water employees will take their places as coach, setter, cranker and copper during the Texas section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) Pipe Tapping Competition in Houston.

Launched in 2017, El Paso Police Department Detective Vanessa Acosta established Law N Paws to rescue four-legged victims of animal cruelty. This year, El Paso Water’s Charity of Choice Committee chose to advocate for the voiceless and raise awareness about a small nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates abused animals.

Expect El Paso Water’s Spring WaterSmart Landscape Series to get animated. In his more than 30 years of experience in forestry, Oscar Mestas – retired regional urban forester of Texas A&M Forest Service – has picked up a few tricks of the trade. Mestas’ sessions often involve student interaction, with some role-playing, performances and games.

Although Montana Vista has had water service for decades, residents have had to use septic tanks or resort to inadequate drainage systems. Through the efforts of Montana Vista residents like Martina Silva, along with the advocacy of local and state elected officials, El Paso Water has received funding assistance and will enable the utility to proceed with phase one of a wastewater project.

The Texas Society of Professional Engineers (TSPE) El Paso Chapter recognized Public Service Board member Santiago as the 2019 El Paso Engineer of the Year at a Feb. 15 ceremony.

Twenty-one organizations, including the University of Texas at El Paso, the Texas Department of Transportation and the Fab Lab of El Paso, are collaborating with EPWater on the family engineering event. “By relating various engineer projects throughout El Paso, we hope that we are able to make that connection between the community and the importance of inspiring our youth in science and engineering,” said April Thoreson, Water Conservation Education Specialist.

As EPWater moves to address aging infrastructure across El Paso, the utility’s attention centered on replacing deteriorating lines in charge of providing water to the Downtown community. Complicating the project was the path of the water line, which required tunneling beneath 10 sets of railroad tracks, which had to remain in use. This meant the traditional open cut method or trenching could not be used.

Thanks to the Magnolia Stormwater Project and several other completed stormwater projects in the area, the flooding along I-10 in Central El Paso is a distant memory for drivers who grew accustomed to dealing with it after storms.

With multiple projects converging at EPWater’s oldest wastewater facility, the Haskell plant is buzzing like a beehive. Three projects were completed in 2018: digesters heating system upgrade, primary clarifier odor control as well as primary clarifier rehabilitation. Two projects are underway: digester No. 1 rehabilitation project and headworks effluent piping improvement.

“We have an amazing community of residents who are genuinely interested in our local environment and water resources,” said Norma Guzman-Kennedy, EPWater Conservation Specialist. “They are taking what they learned in the classroom and putting it to practical use in our own community.”

The utility announced temporary assistance for employees affected by the shutdown and not receiving a paycheck. EPWater will assist federal workers who may need additional flexibility in paying their water bill.

The Public Service Board (PSB) approved a $436.1 million El Paso Water budget today for water, wastewater and stormwater systems for the 2019-20 fiscal year. The PSB kept stormwater rates flat while approving an increase of 4 percent for water service and 8 percent for wastewater service.

EPWater gets new high-tech training thanks to a simulator that can safely train operators. Hundreds of employees will soon receive this state-of-the-art training.

El Paso Water’s Kyle Eckert and Luis Velasquez have heard all about the giant ball of grease – weighing 130 tons – that recently threatened to flood London’s streets with wastewater. The pretreatment inspectors for Environmental Compliance and Industrial Pretreatment want you to know that EPWater is working toward a cleaner city one drain at a time.

CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta visited El Paso Water’s Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant and the Fred Hervey Reclamation Plant in recent weeks and reported on El Paso’s conservation and water reuse efforts. Those who watched the report or read the story learned about El Paso Water’s innovation and resilience in the face of drought, and they saw the important roles the Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant and the Fred Hervey Reclamation Plant perform. But the online story’s headline raised eyebrows: El Paso to drink treated sewage water due to climate change drought.

El Paso Water staff presented the proposed Fiscal Year 2019-’20 water, wastewater and stormwater budgets to the Public Service Board (PSB) for consideration on December 3. The PSB will study the combined $436.1 million budget, which proposes no increase for stormwater fees and is a downward adjustment from last year’s projection of a 6 percent fee increase.

When Juarez and Fleet Maintenance Chief Ivan Ibarra decided to build a float worthy of bearing EPWater’s name, both had their eyes on a prize. Once they arrived at the Thanksgiving parade, though, both were confident they had a prizewinner on their hands.

About 25 people received an inside look at the awesome structures designed to handle the localized, intense rain events El Paso receives.

As El Paso Water celebrates the 25th anniversary of the Jonathan Rogers plant, the facility is a shining example of how each plant not only serves the community but also helps to protect other valuable water resources in a synergistic relationship.

It was a night of gratitude at the TecH2O Center, honoring the small army of volunteers who make public outreach possible throughout the year. TecH2O staff members celebrated volunteers’ tireless service at its annual awards banquet Nov. 8.

On Nov. 11, the nation unites to honor the sacrifices of those who served in the military on Veterans Day. This year, EPWater joins the city in officially adding Veterans Day as a city-designated holiday Nov. 12.

On Nov. 1, leaders from El Paso Water, Project Amistad and the City of El Paso announced a new customer assistance program called AguaCares. The program officially launches Jan. 2 and will focus on helping elderly, low-income customers who struggle to pay their water and wastewater bills.

For more than 30 years, EPWater has been transforming wastewater into fresh drinking water at the Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant, then using it to recharge the aquifer. Guests received an up-close look at the recharge process.

At this year’s Texas Association of Mexican American Chambers of Commerce state convention, El Paso Water was named the 2018 TAMACC Corporate Advocate of the Year.

El Paso Water is always looking for ways to minimize both the logistical and financial impact of these repairs to the community while still providing safe, reliable water to customers.

EPWater recognized 23 businesses with Pretreatment Excellence Awards for full compliance with state and federal discharge standards to reduce the amount of pollutants released into the wastewater systems and the environment.

El Paso Water threw open the doors Sept. 27 at the W.E. Robertson Water Treatment Plant in honor of the plant’s 75th anniversary. Chihuahuita neighbors, former employees and water sector professionals streamed inside, eager to tour the historic and pioneering plant, as mariachis and folklorico dancers provided entertainment.

In 75 years, El Paso Water has come full circle. As EPWater observes the 75th anniversary of the Robertson Water Treatment Plant, the city’s utility is now at a similar crossroads. Over the next decade, El Paso is expected to grow by 1.4 million people. That growth comes with a responsibility to ensure a sustainable supply of high quality water.

Hearing about upcoming construction puts many on edge. That’s understandable. So why is repairing water lines a necessary inconvenience?

The award winning “Pure Water” advanced water purification trailer, developed by a team from Arizona, will make a one-day stop at TecH2O on Sept. 15 during the free Science Saturday event.

Shattering goal expectations of $30,000, 2018 El Paso Water Charity of Choice Chair Gerardo Gomez presented a check for $47,000 to the Assistance League of El Paso on Sept. 12 at the Public Service Board meeting.

El Paso Water is on the hunt – for leaks. Since 2004, EPWater has purchased and installed thousands of sensors to track down leaks and make repairs before a main break can occur.

August is National Water quality Month. To celebrate, El Paso Water is highlighting the countless processes, tests and continuous monitoring we perform throughout our system to provide our customers with high quality drinking water.

About 100 members of the 2018 Leadership Texas class visited El Paso Water on Aug. 13, eager to expand their knowledge about El Paso’s binational community, which collaborates on the management of the U.S. and Mexico’s shared water resources. As a result, members left with a more complete picture of the Borderland’s water supply strategies.

Statistics show that the Don’t Trash EP campaign effectively raised awareness in El Paso about the consequences of illegal dumping. As a result, more El Pasoans know to call 311 to report it.

EPWater has facilities throughout El Paso that produce reliable, high quality drinking water. Others perform stormwater flood control functions with the vital task of collecting and cleaning wastewater from homes and businesses. Although they are necessary locations, they do not have to be unsightly.

El Paso Water has taken up residence on Nextdoor social network to boost the utility’s direct communication to the city’s neighborhoods. As the only public agency in El Paso on Nextdoor, EPWater plans to post emergency notifications as well as updates on construction projects and traffic impacts, which affect communities served by the utility.

On July 16, EPWater’s Shubert stood with representatives of the El Paso Fire Department, the National Weather Service, El Paso County Water Improvement District No. 1 and the Drowning Prevention Coalition to urge residents to take important safety precautions during summer monsoons and to Turn Around Don’t Drown.

On July 9, special visitors from the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program absorbed an enlightening earful from Water Supply Manager Ruben Rodriguez and Art Ruiz, KBH Superintendent, during their trip to El Paso.

El Paso Water is urging local residents to proactively prepare for anticipated flood risks this summer by utilizing EPWater’s expanding free sandbag sites and hours.

Only a select few Texas water utilities qualify for the prestigious Partnership for Safe Drinking Water’s Directors Award, and El Paso Water is one of them. At the annual conference of the American Water Works Association, EPWater was recognized for receiving the Directors Award for Distribution System Operations in June.

The Shack Wings & Brews Restaurant has always been committed to saving water, but the owners never thought they would be honored for it. Find out more about EPWater's 2018 Conservation Hero.

EPWater improvements result in 5,000 properties removed from floodplain

What do a mounted deer head, a car bumper and barrels of acid have in common? They’re all part of the serious problem of illegal dumping across El Paso.

As we celebrate National Infrastructure Week with utilities across the country, EPWater is highlighting some of the many projects that will make El Paso more resilient. In 2018, EPWater is investing $75 million to replace aging water and wastewater lines, rehabilitate wells and reservoirs, and make much needed upgrades to various facilities.

El Paso Water employees covered all the bases on water resources and conservation during the El Paso Chihuahuas’ Baseball in Education Day on May 2. EPWater employees helped hundreds of students spin the Water Conservation Wheel to find out more about different topics on water management.

As temperatures climb, many El Pasoans return to their gardens with hoses in hand. But if you’re using more water, you can expect an increase in your bill as well. El Pasoans can do their part by following tips to save water…. and money too.

Wyler Tram event

El Paso homeowner Sarah Guemez experienced first-hand how important it can be to identify a leak.

The 2018 Charity of Choice is the Assistance League of El Paso.

Thomas Manor Park, Pond and Pump Station Groundbreaking

Gisela Dagnino presents to sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy.

Engineers make El Paso Water and our community a better place.

Learn more about the Certified Water Partner program!

The Public Service Board (PSB) approved the El Paso Water Budget for fiscal year 2018-19 for its water, wastewater, reclaimed water and stormwater utilities on January 10.

El Paso Water places the highest priority on water quality.

They are worlds apart, but El Paso Water shares common ground with their counterparts in Singapore in water reuse developments. Three representatives of PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency, visited Monday to discuss El Paso Water's advances in water treatment processes and to tour the Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Plant, 11700 Railroad.

El Paso Water's Customer Service Representatives are working hard to respond to answer your questions.

Contrary to what you might hear in the news from other cities, drinking water is not a significant problem in El Paso.

El Paso Water customers may get sandbags seven days a week from June 26 through the end of September. The seasonal sites will be open in the west, central, east and Mission Valley areas, and hours will be extended at the Stormwater Operations Center, which is open throughout the year.

El Paso Water recognized Martita's Lunch Box (3623 Buckner St.) as its 2017 Conservation Hero on July 21 at the Chihuahuas baseball game. Restaurant owners Martin Rios, Lorenzo Olivas and Maria Olivas accepted the award from EPWater President and CEO John Balliew on the field before the third inning.

El Paso Water has received several inquiries about companies offering programs that cover the cost of emergency repairs to water and sewer service lines. El Paso Water is not affiliated with these companies and does not endorse the companies or their programs.

West El Paso street damaged by two collapsed stormwater drains