El Paso, Texas – A 16‑inch water main failed Friday in the Far East part of the city, forcing El Dorado High School to release students early and causing a temporary water outage for the campus and nearby residents.
What happened
El Paso Water confirmed the break occurred across from El Dorado High School at the intersection of Edgemere Boulevard and Tierra Este Road. Public Affairs Officer Denise Parra said the utility has not yet determined a cause. Crews are isolating the line to stop the flow of water before repairs can begin, and no completion estimate is available at this time.
School response
Socorro Independent School District (SISD) relayed a message from El Dorado High School principal Patricia Pedroza. She announced that students would be dismissed at 3:20 p.m. due to the outage. Bus riders were instructed to gather in the gym while drivers and walkers were allowed to leave the campus. Parents were asked to consider remote pick‑up locations because traffic was expected to be heavily impacted.
Additional SISD police officers were deployed to the area to help manage the increased traffic and ensure student safety.
Utility updates
El Paso Water’s outage map classifies the incident as “low severity,” affecting between one and forty‑nine customers, a figure that includes the high school. The utility posted a notice on its social‑media channels urging drivers to avoid the area if possible and confirming that a water tanker is en route to provide temporary service.
“We ask drivers to avoid the area, if possible. A water tanker is en route. Updates will be provided on this post as they become available,” the agency wrote.
Impact on the community
While the outage is limited in scope, the disruption underscores the importance of reliable infrastructure for schools and families. Parents expressed appreciation for the district’s quick communication and the presence of extra police support to keep traffic flowing safely.
El Paso Water officials emphasized that safety remains the top priority. Once the line is isolated, crews will begin repairs, and the utility will continue to update residents through its online outage map and social‑media feeds.
Looking ahead
Residents are encouraged to monitor El Paso Water’s official channels for further information on repair timelines and any additional service advisories. The district will also keep families informed about any changes to dismissal procedures or transportation arrangements as the situation evolves.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
