Repairs continue on 30-inch water main
EL PASO – On Tuesday night (Dec. 3), El Paso Water crews installed a water valve crucial to restoring water service to the hundreds of customers impacted by a main leak at Ojo de Agua and Via Descanso. It will take a number of hours to move water from nearby water storage tanks to customers’ homes in the neighborhoods affected in West El Paso.
Although EPWater officials estimate customers will have water service by early Wednesday, some areas may still experience low pressure. Meanwhile, repairs to the 30-inch main continue and the area will remain an active construction site. EPWater is in communication with El Paso Independent School District officials on the latest developments.
Water tankers and gallons of water will continue to be available for impacted customers.
“We’d like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding during this time,” said Gilbert Trejo, Vice President of Operations and Technical Services. “We also want to acknowledge the dozens of utility employees working around the clock to tackle a challenging excavation and valve repair. Crews will continue working until service is fully restored.”
Utility officials continue to investigate the cause of the water main leak.
Background: Several hundreds of customers in West El Paso are experiencing low water pressure or no water service as El Paso Water crews work to assess and repair a water main leak near the intersection of Ojo de Agua and Via Descanso. The El Paso Independent School District announced that Lundy and Tippin elementaries, along with and Hornedo Middle school are closed on Tuesday.
EPWater crews responded immediately on Monday afternoon and started the process of excavating more than 20 feet to reach the 30-inch diameter water line. To help customers during this time, EPWater is providing two drinking water trucks for impacted residents in the following areas:
- Ojo de Agua and Via Descanso
- High Ridge and Via Serena
Customers are asked to take their own containers to fill and can be used for handwashing, brushing teeth, flushing toilet, etc. Water gallons will also be available.