EL PASO, Texas — El Paso Water announced that the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) has dropped a $1.2 million fine and all related allegations over a 2022 wastewater spill into the Rio Grande. The announcement was made on Friday, August 9.
Earlier reports noted that El Paso Water faced a potential fine of up to $2 million for discharging 1.25 billion gallons of wastewater into the Rio Grande between August 2021 and January 2022 due to several pipeline breaks in West El Paso.
In June 2022, NMED issued two compliance orders accusing El Paso Water of violating New Mexico’s environmental regulations due to the spill. In response, El Paso Water sued NMED in federal court, arguing that NMED did not have the authority to take enforcement action.
Recently, NMED and El Paso Water reached a settlement. As part of the agreement, El Paso Water will provide NMED with ongoing information about the spill but will not face the fine or any further allegations.
El Paso Water noted that it maintained regular communication with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the International Boundary and Water Commission throughout the incident. They also began replacing the Frontera pipeline in 2020 and worked around the clock for four months to fix the damage.
Due to additional pipeline breaks, El Paso Water had to divert wastewater into the Rio Grande temporarily to prevent flooding and protect public health. The utility kept the community informed and worked closely with regulatory agencies during this period.