Efforts are underway to repair a major water line break in El Paso that has left approximately 100,000 residents without water. During a news conference on January 12, Gilbert Trejo, the vice president of operations and technical services for El Paso Water, provided an update on the situation, indicating that nine of the 15 affected reservoirs are now operational, while acknowledging that further work is needed.
Trejo emphasized the ongoing challenges, stating, “We’re seeing measured progress, but we’re not out of the woods yet,” and urged the community to be patient as they navigate this unusual emergency. Crews are actively working at the site of the incident in Northeast El Paso, and specialized equipment is being brought in for the essential reconstruction of the water line once conditions permit.
Much of the affected area is still under a boil order due to elevated chlorine levels in the water, though Trejo noted that these levels are improving. The best-case scenario for lifting the boil order could occur late Tuesday afternoon, pending further water quality testing.
Although the North Hills neighborhood has partially returned to normal service, some areas in Central El Paso are now experiencing outages. A new water distribution site has been established at Grandview Park to assist residents. Trejo estimates that the water lost from the line break amounts to several million gallons but has not provided a definitive figure.
In response to the outages, the El Paso Independent School District announced that several schools affected by the situation would reopen on January 13, as safety conditions improve. Some campuses, including Andress High School and Irvin High School, will welcome students back, while others, such as Canyon Hills Middle School, remain closed.
The Ysleta Independent School District has also confirmed that Parkland-area schools will resume classes under the ongoing boil notice, with necessary accommodations like bottled water and hand sanitizer provided.
In providing support to residents, El Paso Water has established water tanker trucks and distribution points at several parks for those in need of potable water. Locations include Sue Young Park and Arlington Park, with operations beginning daily at 8 a.m. for water bottle distribution.
For elderly or disabled residents requiring water delivery, El Paso Water has a dedicated contact number for assistance. The community is encouraged to remain vigilant and informed as recovery efforts continue, showcasing the resilience and unity of El Paso in the face of this significant challenge.