Customer efforts helped to expedite repairs to broken wastewater mains
El Paso Water is announcing that west side residents and businesses may resume normal water use as of 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 15.
“We want to express our appreciation to west El Paso residents for their cooperation in reducing indoor water use over the past 24 hours,” said EPWater President and CEO John Balliew “The reduced flows enabled our crews to work more efficiently to repair the pipelines that convey wastewater from homes and businesses to the treatment plant.”
The utility put out the call to action to reduce indoor water use on Saturday evening after two broken wastewater lines on Sunland Park Drive and Doniphan Circle caused a wastewater backup and overflows in a neighborhood in the Upper Valley.
EPWater reports that more than a dozen residents filed claims for private property damage resulting from the wastewater overflows. The utility is working with affected homeowners on a case by case basis to address claims. The public drinking water supply was not impacted.
Westbound Sunland Park Dr. from Interstate 10 to Doniphan Park Circle will continue to be reduced to one lane while crews continue repairs. For residents directly impacted by the wastewater flows, please contact 915-594-5500.
Background:
On Friday, August 13, two parallel wastewater mains on Sunland Park Drive and Doniphan Circle broke resulting in the discharge of hundreds of thousands of gallons of domestic wastewater. The pair of broken lines are part of a pipeline replacement construction project to increase reliability of the system.
EPWater notified the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the appropriate local government officials, as required. Additionally, EPWater will work with the regional TCEQ office on any other necessary remediation requirements. If citizens have questions about the spill, they may contact Felipe Lopez, Chief Operations Officer at El Paso Water at 915-594-5530.