Full Breakdown
Major Water Main Break Disrupts Service for Over 100,000 Residents in El Paso
1/13/2026, 12:44:21 AM
Overview of the Incident
A significant water main break occurred late Saturday night, January 10, 2026, in Northeast El Paso, Texas, affecting over 100,000 residents. The rupture of a 36-inch water main near the intersection of Girl Scout Lane and Transmountain Road drained multiple reservoirs and left approximately 38,000 customer connections without water service. El Paso Water officials described the situation as “an event of unprecedented proportion,” with full restoration expected to take up to 72 hours.
Response and Recovery Efforts
El Paso Water has established several water distribution centers across the affected areas, including Sue Young Park, Arlington Park, Sunrise Park, North Skies Park, and Chisolm Park. Residents are encouraged to bring their own containers to these sites, which will remain open 24/7 until normal service is restored. A precautionary boil water notice has been issued for the impacted areas, advising residents to boil water for three minutes before consumption to prevent potential contamination.
Impact on Schools and Businesses
The water outage has led to the cancellation of classes at more than a dozen schools within the El Paso Independent School District, including Andress High School and Irvin High School. Many local businesses, particularly restaurants, reported disruptions due to low water pressure or complete service loss, prompting some to close temporarily. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson acknowledged the stress caused by the outage, particularly for families and individuals with medical needs.
Official Statements
Gilbert Trejo, Vice President of Operations and Technical Services at El Paso Water, emphasized the utility's commitment to resolving the issue swiftly. He stated, “Restoring service and protecting public health are our top priorities,” and urged residents to minimize water use during the repair process. Mayor Johnson also expressed gratitude for the community's patience as crews work around the clock to restore service.
Criticism and Community Concerns
Residents have voiced frustration over the lack of immediate information regarding the cause of the break and the timeline for repairs. Some have reported property damage, including sinkholes in their backyards, due to the flooding caused by the break. Local businesses have also expressed concern about the financial impact of the outage, as many rely on consistent water service for operations.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
While El Paso Water has indicated that full restoration could take up to 72 hours, some reports suggest that certain areas may see service restored within 24 hours. The exact cause of the water main break remains undetermined, with officials stating that they are still gathering information.
What's Next
El Paso Water will continue to provide updates on the restoration process and the status of the boil water notice. Residents are advised to stay informed through local news outlets and the utility's communication channels as repairs progress.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This is an unprecedented outage, and we are responding with urgency,” — Gilbert Trejo, Vice President of Operations and Technical Services, El Paso Water
- “We appreciate everyone's patience as we resolve this issue of the water in Northeast El Paso,” — Mayor Renard Johnson
