Main Break Disrupts Water Supply for Numerous Residents in El Paso, Texas

Over the weekend, a significant water main break in El Paso, Texas, left more than 100,000 residents without reliable access to water. City officials have indicated that it may take until midweek for normal operations to resume.

The incident occurred late Saturday night when a 36-inch water main line ruptured in the city, which has a population of approximately 700,000. Gilbert Trejo, a representative from El Paso Water, described the situation as “an event of unprecedented proportion.” He elaborated that the severity of the break was exacerbated by the pipeline’s design and the various connections of smaller lines attached to it.

In response to the crisis, officials issued a boil water notice and established water distribution centers throughout the city. This measure aims to ensure that residents have access to safe drinking water while repairs are underway.

As a result of the outage, classes were canceled on Monday at over a dozen schools within the El Paso Independent School District. While some schools remained open, they too were affected by the boil water notice, prompting adjustments to their operations.

Trejo reported that approximately 38,000 customer connections were rendered inoperative due to the break, impacting over 100,000 residents. He noted that more than 15 water reservoirs “essentially drained out” as a consequence of the incident.

At this time, officials have not yet determined the exact cause of the break. Trejo has urged the community for patience as they work diligently to repair the damage and restore water service.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Topics
Texas

Over the weekend, a significant water main break in El Paso, Texas, left more than 100,000 residents without reliable access to water. City officials have indicated that it may take until midweek for normal operations to resume.

The incident occurred late Saturday night when a 36-inch water main line ruptured in the city, which has a population of approximately 700,000. Gilbert Trejo, a representative from El Paso Water, described the situation as “an event of unprecedented proportion.” He elaborated that the severity of the break was exacerbated by the pipeline’s design and the various connections of smaller lines attached to it.

In response to the crisis, officials issued a boil water notice and established water distribution centers throughout the city. This measure aims to ensure that residents have access to safe drinking water while repairs are underway.

As a result of the outage, classes were canceled on Monday at over a dozen schools within the El Paso Independent School District. While some schools remained open, they too were affected by the boil water notice, prompting adjustments to their operations.

Trejo reported that approximately 38,000 customer connections were rendered inoperative due to the break, impacting over 100,000 residents. He noted that more than 15 water reservoirs “essentially drained out” as a consequence of the incident.

At this time, officials have not yet determined the exact cause of the break. Trejo has urged the community for patience as they work diligently to repair the damage and restore water service.

Copyright 2026 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Topics
Texas