Lower Valley Water warns proposed ICE detention facility could strain system
SOCORRO, Texas (KFOX14/CBS4) — Concerns are growing in Socorro over whether a proposed ICE detention facility could strain the area’s water system, as some residents say low water pressure is already a daily challenge.
The Lower Valley Water District, which serves the area near the proposed site, said it is not currently seeing water pressure problems in the district.
Asked whether there are water issues, Ed Long, the district’s chief operations and technical officer, said, “No, no, we don’t.”
Ed Long, Chief Operations and Technical Officer of the Lower Valley Water District in El Paso County speaking on future ICE detention facility and water infrastructure. Credit: KFOX14/CBS4
Long said the district is preparing to prevent any pressure drops if the facility moves forward. “We’re taking steps to make sure they don’t experience those drops in water pressure,” he said.
At the same time, Long said his concern is less about the facility itself and more about the impact on existing systems.
“My concern is not so much the facilities, but whether they gonna be a strain on our existing infrastructure,” he said.
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Emily Schmalz reports on water utility addressing water pressure concerns near future ICE detention facilities in Socorro.
The debate intensified after the Department of Homeland Security purchased warehouses for $122 million, raising questions among neighbors about whether additional demand could worsen water pressure.
Long said DHS would need to add another tank at the warehouse property off Interstate 10, along with a hydraulic model for the building if it is used as a detention facility.
Long said the tanks would draw and store water so pressure throughout the district would not be affected.
Long said all plans must be submitted to the Lower Valley Water District, and DHS has not yet submitted any.
Socorro Mayor Rudy Cruz Jr. also raised concerns Wednesday during a Socorro City Council meeting, pointing to longstanding utility needs in the community.
Socorro council directs attorneys to pursue ordinance blocking detention facilities (Credit: KFOX14/CBS4)
“I have residents who live in my city right now for over 40 years who still don’t have basic utility needs such as sewer, water and natural gas,” Cruz said. “And for a private company to come here and get it overnight, its unjust to my residents and the taxpayers of Socorro.”
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Residents also spoke during the meeting, warning about the potential impact on what they described as limited resources and an already fragile infrastructure.
“We don’t have enough money for this. It’s not going to be enough to just ask them for a fee. We are going to have to fight for our resources, our limited resources,” one resident said.
Another resident added, “We are already struggling with water shortages; we cannot afford to make things worse.”
I also reached out to the Mayor of Socorro and Texas State Representative Vincent Perez about Long’s statements on the current and future water infrastructure, but did not hear back in time for this report.
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