670,000 Gallons of Wastewater Contained at John T. Hickerson Treatment Facility in El Paso

El Paso Water contained a spill of approximately 670,000 gallons of wastewater at the John T. Hickerson Treatment Plant. The spill, caused by the failure of four contractor pumps, was reported at 12:10 a.m. today. Most of the wastewater was contained on-site, with a minimal amount reaching the nearby Rio Grande. There is no risk to the region's surface water supply as the river treatment plants are currently not in operation. The contractor is responsible for cleanup and environmental mitigation efforts.

Published Mar 26, 2026

El Paso Water reported a containment of approximately 670,000 gallons of wastewater at the John T. Hickerson Wastewater Treatment Plant following a pump failure on Tuesday at 12:10 a.m. While most wastewater was contained, some reached the mostly dry Rio Grande.

AI-curated by Theia

There is no risk to the region's surface water supply as the river water treatment plants are inactive. The contractor responsible for the pumps is conducting repairs and cleanup. Residents near the spill are advised to boil private well water and avoid contact with wastewater. The incident was reported to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.