EPWater voices objections to Border Highway extension options

Luisa Barrios
·2 min read
2

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The El Paso Water is voicing concerns and objections to all three options proposed in a study by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to extend the Border Highway, the utility announced in a news release.

TxDOT study draws concerns over fate of wetlands

“From operational impacts to the utility’s commitment of preserving Rio Bosque Wetlands Park, EPWater leaders cannot support TxDOT’s proposed plans,” read the news release.

“Construction of a highway in the area would cause major impacts to the Jonathan Rogers Water
Treatment Plant and the Roberto Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant,” said Gilbert Trejo, vice president of operations and technical services. “Proposed options would require movement of very large diameter pipelines and potentially cause service disruptions, possibly forcing EPWater into non-compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.”

EPWater says water and wastewater facilities, deemed critical infrastructure, are increasingly at risk for security threats.

Trejo said that a highway in close proximity would heighten the vulnerability and security and safety of EPWater plants and employees.

EPWater’s main service center, which is located on Pan American Drive, houses dozens of fleet vehicles and additional construction and traffic could hinder field crews’ response times to water main breaks or other emergencies across the city, Trejo said.

Trejo adds that all three options pose “serious environmental threats” to the nearby Rio bosque Wetlands Park.

“As the owner and trustee of the park, EPWater is committed to protecting the 372 acres of
wetlands that have become a sanctuary for biodiversity, providing a habitat for numerous native plants and wildlife species,” Trejo said. “It is also one of the few and unique public open spaces in the Lower Valley where families can enjoy trails, go bird watching, and learn what El Paso looked like prior to modern development.”

EPWater said the utility has been working with the U.S. Army corps of Engineers for several years on a study of Rio Grande.

The Corps has committed to $12 million to park improvements, which could be lost if the highway is built in any of the three proposed locations, according to EPWater.

“EPWater appreciates the open communication with TxDOT on the study’s proposed plans, but the utility cannot support any option that would impact the daily operations that help provide critical water and wastewater services to the community,” Trejo said.

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