EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Repeated water main breaks on an East El Paso street have prompted a city representative to demand answers and a permanent fix from El Paso Water.
City Rep. Lily Limon who represents parts of East El Paso and the Lower Valley said six breaks in less than a month on Adabel Drive signal a larger infrastructure problem and that temporary repairs are no longer enough.
“I think that after the first band-aid maybe the second one Yeah, but six and potentially more I think we have a very deep and serious problem and I urge El Paso water to step up to the plate and really do a deep dive,” Limon said.
RELATED: Adabel Drive water main breaks again, residents cite sixth failure in under a month
Residents living on Adabel Drive have said they are frustrated by repeated flooding, torn-up pavement and limited communication from El Paso Water about what is happening.
Julia Spencer reports on City Rep. Lily Limon seeks full review of pipes following repeated breaks in East El Paso (Credit: KFOX14)
One resident said, “You fix one and you think you’ve got it and you wake up and there’s water streaming down the street that to me is the responsibility of El Paso Water.”
Limon said the patchwork approach could lead to a larger failure if the underlying issue is not addressed.
KFOX14/CBS4 asked whether El Paso Water is handling the situation appropriately, Limon said, “Well, and I’m not sure if appropriate would be the correct word, but maybe Look at it more holistically and try to determine look this is a problem area and if all we’re doing is putting band-aids on that area, that section, there’s got to be a deeper understanding of exactly what is happening.”
KFOX14/CBS4’s Julia Spencer interviewing City representative Lily Limon regarding several water main breaks on Adabel Dr. in East El Paso. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
Limon said her office has contacted El Paso Water multiple times but has not received clear updates.
“The response has been ‘We’re taking care of it. We will deal with it’, but we really don’t know the progress,” she said.
Water in a small sinkhole from a water main break on Adabel Drive. (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
Limon said she plans to take the issue directly to the utility’s top leadership, calling for a full review of the pipes on Adabel Drive and a clear timeline for a permanent solution.
“I mean calling up Mr. Balliew [El Paso Water’s CEO] is not the correct answer at the very first call. You really have to let the process go through. I’m at the end of the process,” she said.
Limon said she tentatively expects to meet with affected residents on Saturday to hear their concerns firsthand.
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Meantime, El Paso Water, is responding to questions asked by KFOX14/CBS4 regarding communication following main breaks.
KFOX14/CBS4 asked:
How and when were residents notified of the testing and the results for each specific incident?
El Paso Water’s response was:
If tests are negative, customers are not notified because their water is safe to consume. If there are any issues with the water, customers will be immediately notified.
KFOX14/CBS4 also asked:
What is El Paso Water’s official protocol for distributing alternative water during service interruptions?Why was bottled water provided in only one instance?What criteria determine whether bottled water, water tanks, or no alternative supply is provided?
El Paso Water responded:
EP Water provides water based on criteria specific to each main break, which factors in duration of outage, system conditions, and number of affected homes/businesses. We are currently reviewing that protocol as it relates to repeated outages, such as with Adabel Drive.
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