El Paso Water fires back at NMED over fine

EL PASO, Texas -- El Paso water says it is correcting statements made by the New Mexico Environment Department after the NMED announced a fine against EP Water over last year's wastewater discharge into the Rio Grande.

The NMED released a statement saying it would impose a $1.2 million fine against EP Water for the discharge.

In the statement, the NMED said El Paso Water never reported the unauthorized discharge to the state in violation of the Water Quality Act and Water Quality Control Commission regulations.

El Paso Water says it is continuing a transparent response to what was dubbed the Frontera Wastewater Emergency.

“Given the serious nature of the emergency, we informed City Council last year that violations and enforcement actions are to be expected from regulators,” said EPWater President and CEO John Balliew. “What we didn’t expect was false and misleading claims from an organization with a public service mission."

EP Water said it has documentation that NMED was notified by email within 24 hours of the discharge.