EL PASO, Texas – Over 100,000 residents of El Paso, Texas, experienced severe water shortages following a major break in a 36-inch water main late Saturday night. Officials from El Paso Water have labeled the incident as “an event of unprecedented proportion,” particularly noting the unique design of the pipeline and the various connections made with smaller lines that exacerbated the situation.
The main break significantly affected approximately 38,000 customer connections, leaving many neighborhoods without reliable access to water. In response, El Paso officials instituted a boil water notice and established distribution centers to provide residents with essential supplies.
Classes were canceled at more than a dozen schools within the El Paso Independent School District on Monday, with additional schools remaining open but adhering to the boil water notice guidelines.
El Paso Water’s Gilbert Trejo revealed that over 15 water reservoirs were nearly depleted due to the sudden demand on the system. Investigations into the cause of the break are still ongoing, and officials have called for community patience as they work diligently to repair the damage and restore water services.
As crews work around the clock, there remains a hopeful outlook for a return to normal operations by midweek, emphasizing the resilience of both the city’s infrastructure and its dedicated personnel in overcoming this significant challenge.