Northeast El Paso residents are upset and just trying to find answers after a major water main break has caused widespread outages and for some residents massive sink holes in what once was their backyards.
The break occurred early Sunday morning near Girl Scout Lane and Transmountain Road, close to Skyline Park, after a 36-inch water main ruptured, draining multiple reservoirs and leaving thousands of customers with little to no water pressure.
El Paso Water crews were on scene overnight and continued working under what the utility describes as “very challenging conditions,” including freezing temperatures and the complexity of the water system. “Due to the size of the break and the volume of water involved, repairs are expected to take several hours and potentially up to 24 hours to fully restore service,” El Paso Water said in a statement, adding that full repairs to the pipeline could take several days.
Boil Water Notice In Place
El Paso Water has issued a boil water notice after the major water main break caused widespread outages across Central and Northeast El Paso, as well as parts of McGregor Range.
Because low water pressure can increase the risk of contamination, El Paso Water is asking affected customers to boil all water intended for consumption. The utility recommends bringing water to a rolling boil for three minutes before using it for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or making ice. Bottled water may be used instead.
El Paso Water
El Paso Water
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El Paso Schools Closed Due To Water Outages
As a result of the outage, the El Paso Independent School District confirmed that 13 campuses will be closed Monday, January 12, 2026. The affected schools are:
Andress High SchoolIrvin High SchoolTMECHSCharles Middle SchoolMagoffin Middle SchoolNavarrette Middle SchoolBobby Joe Hill PK–8Barron ElementaryDuran ElementaryStanton ElementaryTorres ElementaryTravis ElementaryWhitaker Elementary
El Paso Water says customers will be notified once testing confirms the water is safe and the boil notice can be lifted.
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Water Distribution Locations
Bring containers:
Sue Young ParkArlington ParkSunrise Park
Bottled water (no containers needed):
Chisholm Park (across from Clendenin Elementary School)
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