Frustrations Over Bursting & Frozen Water Pipes

Thursday, many people are left with the aftermath of Wednesday’s freezing temps…now dealing with frozen and busted pipes.

So, what do you do?

Unfortunately, many El Pasoans dealing with no water are directing their frustrations in the wrong place, El Paso Water utility. And getting an automated message telling them to be patient is not helping.

Jorge Garcia says it was about 4p.m. Wednesday when his wife realized…no water. He bought five gallons to get through the night. And the next morning, still…not a drip.

“No showers, no toilet, haven’t been able to wash dishes,” said Garcia.

Making matters worse, “When your frozen line thaws your water line will be available again, ” is the automated message from the water utility.

” It makes me feel like they’re avoiding us and I understand because there’s a lot of people in our situation,” said Garcia.

He is one of about 300 tenants frustrated with no water service at the Terrace Hill apartments. A manger at the complex explained a water pipe for its fire hydrants burst in the freeze. So, the fire department turned off the water to the whole complex while they fix it. Garcia thinks the water utility and all others for that matter, should have been better prepared, “Not only water but electricity, gas they should have been better prepared for this…since they’re servicing such a large area to be prepared for the worst of the worst.”

But El Paso Water utilities explains they are responsible for water main breaks that go up to the water meter…not burst pipes on private property.

“It’s the same thing throughout the house, ” said a frustrated Rosario Fiore, in northeast El Paso. He said even after wrapping the pipes outside his girlfriend’s mobile home…they still froze. “It’s always, they prepare for it, but they don’t prepare for it in the right way, they always wait until it gets real drastic, ” said Fiore.

Water utility officials say they can’t do anything about most calls they’re getting, since they’re on private property. Which doesn’t make anyone feel any better. “This feels like a repetition of storm 2006 when we weren’t ready for that either,” said Garcia.

El Paso Water utilities say they only responded to one water main on Thursday…not pipe…main break, in the 18-hundred block of Grandview. It affected about 20 customers and water was restored at about one in the afternoon.

Here are some tips to thaw out frozen pipes from the American Red Cross website: If you turn on a faucet and only a trickle comes out, suspect a frozen pipe. Locate the suspected frozen area of the water pipe. Likely places include pipes running against exterior walls or where your water service enters your home through the foundation. Keep the faucet open. As you treat the frozen pipe and the frozen area begins to melt, water will begin to flow through the frozen area. Running water through the pipe will help melt more ice in the pipe. Apply heat to the section of pipe using an electric heating pad wrapped around the pipe, an electric hair dryer, a portable space heater (kept away from flammable materials), or wrapping pipes with towels soaked in hot water. Apply heat until full water pressure is restored. If you are unable to locate the frozen area, if the frozen area is not accessible, or if you cannot thaw the pipe, call a licensed plumber.