EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso Water is working on making repairs after a large wastewater main broke in Northeast El Paso over the weekend.
The water utility said the 30-inch wastewater main broke Sunday morning, Jan. 5 along the 10300 block of Railroad Drive in Northeast El Paso. The utility described the area as “non-residential.”
The utility said the public drinking water supply is not at risk. It also said that neither water nor wastewater service was impacted to any customers.
The utility also says that it does not have a final determination on how large the spill was, but does confirm that it exceeded 100,000 gallons.
The break was isolated on late Monday morning and wastewater is no longer flowing from the main, the utility said.
A secondary wastewater line is now being used to move sewage to the nearby Fred Hervey Water Reclamation Facility, the utility said.
The utility said it is required to report the spill and use the following language from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for a wastewater discharge event of this size:
“Although it was determined that the public water supply was not affected, EPWater customers or persons who purchase water from another public water supply may contact their water supply distributor to determine if the water is safe for personal use. Persons using private drinking water supply wells located within half-mile of the spill site or within the potentially affected area should use only water that has been distilled or boiled at a rolling boil for at least one minute for all personal uses including drinking, cooking, bathing, and tooth brushing. Individuals with private water wells should have their well water tested and disinfected, if necessary, prior to discontinuing distillation or boiling. The public should avoid contact with wastewater or soil in the area affected by the discharge. If contact is made, it is advised to bathe and wash clothes thoroughly as soon as possible.”
Customers with any questions should call Angel Bustamante, wastewater systems division manager, at (915) 594-5401.
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