A quiet night on East El Paso’s Henry Brennan Drive turned messy when a wastewater line broke, opened up a sinkhole, and sent sewage into a nearby stormwater pond, according to city utility officials. Crews stayed on the clock overnight and into the morning to steady the ground, repair the damaged pipe, and keep the immediate area shut down for safety. Officials emphasized that the public drinking water supply was not at risk, no water services were interrupted, and that cleanup and disinfection would follow once repairs are complete.
Officials: Spill contained; cleanup next
El Paso Water crews contained the spill inside a nearby stormwater pond and remained on site to fix the break at 1335 Henry Brennan Drive, according to KFOX. The utility said water and wastewater service stayed online throughout the incident and reiterated that the public drinking supply is secure. Once the pipe is fully repaired, officials said they will drain the affected sections, carry out a full cleanup, and perform disinfection to lower any public health risks.
Agency precedent and safety steps
The utility’s newsroom shows that El Paso Water follows a familiar playbook after incidents like this: contain the spill, notify regulators, then move into cleanup and disinfection, according to El Paso Water. In April, the utility reported a 950,000-gallon spill that was contained and remediated and said it coordinates with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality on environmental reviews. Officials routinely advise residents to steer clear of wastewater and any affected soil or pond water until disinfection is finished.
Power outage tied to trenching work
El Paso Electric said the sinkhole formed during trenching work and damaged an underground component known as a riser fuse, cutting power to about 11 customers, according to KFOX. Service was restored by 12:35 p.m. after crews swapped out the damaged equipment and made the area safe for utility workers to continue repairs. City traffic and public safety crews kept the immediate stretch closed to drivers while the work wrapped up.
Residents with questions were urged to call El Paso Water’s customer line at (915) 594-5500, and the utility said it would post updates as repairs and disinfection move forward, according to El Paso Water. Officials also asked people to avoid the work zone and stay away from the stormwater pond until cleanup is complete.
