A broken 30-inch sewer line in Northeast El Paso sent an estimated 950,000 gallons of wastewater into an undeveloped area near the 10600 block of Railroad Drive on Monday, according to El Paso Water. Utility crews moved in to contain the mess, then launched cleanup and disinfection work along the shoulder of the northbound lanes of Railroad Drive between S. Angora Loop Avenue and Oates Drive.
Despite the eye-popping volume, officials emphasized that the public drinking water system is not at risk. The utility did, however, urge people who rely on private wells near the site to take extra precautions.
The break was first reported at about 6:30 a.m., and crews quickly drained the damaged section of pipe so they could inspect the failure and begin repairs, according to El Paso Water. "Public safety is our priority, and our team took the appropriate measures to immediately clear the area of any standing wastewater," said Gilbert Trejo, EPWater vice president of operations and technical services. The exact cause of the break is still under investigation.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality advised residents using private drinking-water wells within a half-mile of the spill site to use only distilled or boiled water for all personal uses until further notice, as reported by KFOX14/CBS4. TCEQ recommended that affected well owners have their systems tested and disinfected before returning to normal use.
The agency also urged the public to avoid any contact with wastewater or soil in the affected area and to bathe and wash clothing promptly if exposure occurs. Customers with questions about the spill can contact Martin Noriega at 915-621-2085, according to the utility.
Cleanup And Access
Cleanup crews concentrated on disinfection along the northbound shoulder of Railroad Drive between S. Angora Loop Avenue and Oates Drive, while most of the wastewater was contained in an undeveloped area that is not open to the public, according to El Paso Water.
The utility said water and wastewater services for customers were not affected and reiterated that the public drinking water supply remained safe. Technicians drained portions of the 30-inch line, so repair teams could pinpoint and fix the break.
Context: A Pattern Of Big Spills
This is not the first time in recent months that El Paso has seen a major wastewater release. In March, a 670,000-gallon spill at the John T. Hickerson Wastewater Treatment Facility was contained on site, according to KVIA. Earlier, in April 2025, an 800,000-gallon spill occurred at the Roberto Bustamante plant, also reported by KVIA.
Those earlier incidents highlighted both the size of the city's wastewater system and why officials keep such a close watch on nearby private wells and river access whenever something goes wrong.
Regulatory And What Comes Next
EPWater reported the Railroad Drive spill to state regulators, as noted by KFOX14/CBS4. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Region 6 office in El Paso oversees spill reporting and follow-up. TCEQ lists its 24-hour spill line as 800-832-8224.
The agency will work with El Paso Water to track any environmental impacts and determine what remediation steps or additional well-testing orders may be required.
El Paso Water said crews will continue assessments and repairs at the site and will share updates as testing and cleanup move forward. We will update this story if officials release new information.
