Update: 2 who died at Lower Valley El Paso wastewater treatment plant were making repairs when leak occurred
Oct. 23 update: The body of the second worker who died at the Roberto R. Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant Wednesday was recovered Thursday afternoon.
His body was then transferred to the El Paso Police Department.
A U.S. Dept. of Labor spokeswoman released information Thursday on what happened that led to the deaths of two contract workers at the Lower Valley wastewater treatment plant on Wednesday.
The two workers, who worked for Cubic Water LLC, had been performing repair work in a pump pit between two clarifiers at the plant.
“When a leak occurred in the pump it, it began filling with water. One of the workers went into the pit to attempt to close a valve, but was not able to remove himself from the pit,” said Diana Peterson, regional director, office of public affairs, US Department of Labor.
Another worker entered the pit and also was unable to escape.
OSHA is investigating their deaths.
Oct. 22 Story: Fire crews have recovered the bodies of two men from a wastewater treatment plant.
El Paso Fire Department spokesman Carlos Briano gave no details on how the men were trapped at the Bustamante wastewater plant.
Briano said the two weren’t employees of the El Paso Water Utility but contractors.
He didn’t say what type of work they were doing at the plant.
Briano said fire-rescue crews responded to a call to rescue two men from the plant, but upon arrival the crew discovered that it was to be a recovery effort.
The fire department dispatched 12 units to the plant located in southeast El Paso.
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is investigating the incident and monitoring plant to make sure it’s functioning normally.
It is at reduced capacity until repairs are completed but no information was available on what repairs are necessary until the inquiry is completed.
TCEQ told ABC-7 they are only concerned with environmental controls and treatment itself, not worker safety.
Information on the Roberto R. Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant via El Paso Water Utilities:
The Roberto R. Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant began serving the east, southeast, and Lower Valley parts of the city in 1991 and has a treatment capacity of 39 MGD. This plant utilizes state-of-the-art extended aeration activated sludge processes, biological nitrification, and caustic air scrubbers for odor control.
The plant has the ability to discharge to either the Riverside Canal or the Riverside Drain. Discharges to the Riverside Canal are used chiefly for irrigation purposes. Discharges to the Riverside Drain go mainly to the Rio Bosque Wetlands Preserve where they help maintain and sustain the aquatic habitat required by the diverse animal and plant species present. The plant also has the capability to provide reclaimed water to industries located in the Riverside Industrial Park.
Since the plant’s inception, it has received 1 National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) Peak Performance Platinum Award, 17 NACWA Gold Awards, and 2 NACWA Silver Awards. In 1994, the plant placed second in the nation in the USEPA Operations and Maintenance Excellence Awards, Large-Secondary Treatment category, representing the State of Texas and EPA Region VI. The Water Environment Association of Texas also judged this plant the Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant of the Year for 2005.
