EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Water service has been fully restored at the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility after a dayslong outage caused by a nearby water main break and issues within the jail’s internal water system, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
“El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte is happy to report that water service at the Downtown Detention Facility has been fully restored,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “As of this afternoon, all floors within the facility have fully functioning showers, toilets, and sinks.”
The Sheriff’s Office said maintenance personnel completed inspections throughout the facility and confirmed the water system is operating normally with adequate pressure.
The Sheriff’s Office also added that it will notify the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the U.S. Marshals Service that the water interruption has been resolved and the facility has returned to normal operations.
“The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office extends its sincere appreciation to the El Paso County Commissioners Court, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, County Administration, El Paso Water, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and our maintenance personnel for their continued support and assistance throughout this incident,” the statement said. “Their collaboration and commitment were instrumental in restoring normal operations while ensuring the safety and well-being of those in our care.”
The issues were first reported Tuesday, July 14 when the Sheriff’s office said a City of El Paso water main break in the area affected the downtown detention facility. Although El Paso Water repaired the main break, officials later determined issues within the jail’s internal water system continued to limit pressure until repairs were completed this morning.
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