Water service restored at Downtown Detention Facility: EPCSO
UPDATE (July 18, 2026, 10:13 a.m. ) -- The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said Saturday morning that water has been restored at the Downtown Detention Facility.
The following is a statement from the Sheriff's Office about the restoration of water service at the facility:
“El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte is happy to report that water service at the Downtown Detention Facility has been fully restored.
As of this afternoon, all floors within the facility have fully functioning showers, toilets, and sinks. Maintenance personnel have completed inspections throughout the facility and confirmed that the water system is operating normally with adequate pressure.
The Sheriff's Office will notify the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and the U.S. Marshals Service that the water interruption has been resolved and that the facility has returned to normal operations.
The El Paso County Sheriff's Office extends its sincere appreciation to the El Paso County Commissioners Court, County Judge Ricardo Samaniego, County Administration, El Paso Water, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, and our maintenance personnel for their continued support and assistance throughout this incident. Their collaboration and commitment were instrumental in restoring normal operations while ensuring the safety and well-being of those in our care.”
This comes after a water main break in the facility, which was reported by officials back on Wednesday, July 15, caused water service issues to several of the floors in the detention center.
UPDATE (July 17, 2026, 1:43 p.m.): The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said crews are still working to restore full service as of Friday morning. Crews made progress restoring pressure to some of the floors at the Downtown Detention Facility.
"As of this morning, crews continue working to restore full water service throughout the Downtown Detention Facility.
Late last night, water pressure had been restored as high as the ninth floor but was unable to reach the upper levels. As of this morning, hot water has reached the eleventh floor, while cold water service is currently available only through the fourth floor.
This morning, maintenance personnel replaced the facility's backflow preventer, a component that had not previously been replaced. Crews are now working to gradually repressurize the facility's water system to determine whether the repair restores consistent water service throughout the building. El Paso Water continues to work alongside our maintenance team throughout this process.
To ensure inmate needs continue to be met, some inmates from the upper floors have been relocated to the second floor to access showers, and those efforts will continue throughout the day. Staff are also continuing to manually deliver water to housing areas for sanitation and other essential needs. Laundry operations will continue this weekend at the Jail Annex to ensure inmates have access to clean clothing and bedding.
Throughout this incident, inmates continue to receive bottled drinking water and meals on their regular schedule. We appreciate the continued assistance of El Paso Water and our maintenance personnel as they work to safely restore full water service to the facility.”
UPDATE (July 17, 2026): The El Paso County Sheriff's Office on Thursday said maintenance replaced affected parts that disrupted water service at the Downtown El Paso detention facility after a water main break. Crews are still trying to fully restore water pressure.
EPCSO sent the following statement:
"The El Paso County Sheriff's Office continues working to restore full water service at the Downtown Detention Facility following issues with the building's internal water system.
After identifying the suspected faulty components, maintenance personnel removed and replaced the affected parts. During the repair process, the removed components were found to have significant corrosion and sediment buildup, which is believed to have contributed to the loss of water pressure.
Throughout the incident, the Sheriff's Office has implemented contingency measures to ensure the health and safety of inmates and staff. Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), El Paso Water, and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office have supplied pallets of bottled drinking water to the facility. El Paso Water has also provided a potable water trailer to supplement the facility's water needs.
Inmates have continued receiving meals on their regular schedule and have been provided bottled drinking water and buckets of water to maintain toilet operations. Academy cadets have been assisting with distributing water to all floors of the facility. Additionally, approximately 63 female general population inmates were temporarily relocated to the Jail Annex to reduce the immediate demand on the water system while crews work to restore pressure.
At this time, all suspected faulty components have been replaced, and maintenance personnel are working to rebuild pressure throughout the facility. If sufficient pressure can be restored on the lower floors, the facility's booster pumps are expected to deliver water to the upper levels. If those efforts are unsuccessful, replacement of the booster pumps will be the next step.
The U.S. Marshals Service visited the facility to assess conditions for the federal inmates housed at the jail and determined that the temporary measures currently in place are acceptable. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) was also notified of the situation and has advised that the Sheriff's Office's efforts to ensure inmates continue receiving water are acceptable.
Our personnel remain committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of everyone in the facility. Staff will continue manually distributing water and addressing operational needs while repairs continue. We appreciate the public's patience as we work to restore normal operations as quickly and safely as possible.”
EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The El Paso County Sheriff's Office said a water main break has been causing water service issues at the El Paso County Downtown Detention Facility since Tuesday.
EPCSO said the water main has since been repaired, and the facility is dealing with a pressure regulator issue. The sheriff's office's Maintenance Division is working to restore service.
Additionally, EPCSO said inmates have been able to use the restroom and access drinking water as needed. Portable restrooms were brought in for staff, and El Paso Water delivered bottled water for inmates, according to a news release.
"The safety and well-being of those in our custody and our staff remain our top priority, and we appreciate the assistance from our partner agencies as we work to resolve the issue," EPCSO said.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management helped secure resources to take in water during repairs, according to the sheriff's office.
