EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — El Paso residents are being urged to take a closer look at water-related flyers and mailers arriving at their homes after multiple reports of materials that appear to be from El Paso Water but are actually from private companies.
El Paso Water CEO John Balliew said the utility has heard concerns about “little cards” circulating across the city that reference water quality and resemble official communications.
“So little cards are left, I think most everybody in town has gotten one of those cards that talks about water quality and to the extent that some of them look very much like an El Paso Water Utilities product, people are concerned and then when they call the number a test is done and they try to sell them on a treatment system which is essentially a water softener,” Balliew said.
Emily Schmalz reports on El Paso City Council weighs ordinance targeting misleading water mailers, fines (Credit: KFOX14)
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El Paso Water said the flyers have been a consistent issue and can signal potential scams that could cost residents money.
City officials are set to discuss an ordinance at today’s City Council meeting that would require companies to clearly disclose who they are and that they are not affiliated with the city or a public utility.
Under the proposed ordinance, city officials said anyone caught commercially soliciting without clearly stating who they are, that the material is an ad, and that they are not with the city or a public utility would first receive a warning.
Repeat violations could lead to fines or even a Class C misdemeanor.
In February, a resident told KFOX/CBS4 he received a flyer he believed was from El Paso Water urging him to call about a routine check-up.
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After calling, he said he was told his water wasn’t safe, but El Paso Water said the phone number was not associated with the utility.
City Representative Chris Canales, who added the item for discussion, has also warned about the issue online.
Balliew said the concern is how the water-related flyers are presented and ensuring they do not mislead residents into thinking they are official utility communications.
“I think fair and honest communication would be the goal,” Balliew said.
El Paso Water said residents who receive one of the flyers should not call the number listed. Instead, the utility recommends contacting El Paso Water directly to confirm any information and to report suspicious activity.
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