El Paso City/County Health and Environmental District—Wellhead Protection (WHP) Project

 

1. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of the El Paso City/County WHP project is to implement the City of El Paso’s groundwater protection program throughout El Paso County with special emphasis on the area’s colonias. The project will add an additional level of protection to the area’s drinking water supply wells by using WHP program tools.

2. Funding: Amount of Money Invested and Recipient of Funds: In September 1992, the El Paso City/County Health and Environmental District was awarded assistance funds in the amount of $42,100.

3. Partners: Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, City of El Paso—RSVP program, EPA Region 6.

4. Description: The El Paso City/County Health and Environmental District’s WHP demonstration project borrows elements of the City of El Paso’s WHP program to develop and implement a WHP program for the public drinking water supply wells in the county. The project focused a significant portion of its resources to the water quality problems associated with the county’s colonias.

5. Status: The initial project has been completed but the study continues.

6. Results: Results show that El Paso’s 138 water well supplies had some contamination, but not in dangerous levels. The study continues.

7. U.S. Contacts: Ken Williams, EPA Project Officer, (214) 665-7129 Ernest Rebuck, El Paso Water Utilities, (915) 594-5562