Unsafe water in Santa Teresa and Sunland Park: Residents accuse utility of delayed warning - KFOX El Paso

Unsafe water in Santa Teresa and Sunland Park: Residents accuse utility of delayed warning | KFOX

EL PASO, Texas (KFOX14) — Several residents KFOX14 spoke with in Santa Teresa and Sunland Park reported their water smelled and felt slimy.

The Camino Real Regional Utility Authority made it known Friday afternoon that the pH levels are not safe for residents to use despite being aware of the issue since Wednesday.

However, residents told KFOX14 that they have been alerting the utility since Tuesday night and up until Friday they were made aware that the water was not safe to drink or even shower.

"We've been using the water to bathe, wash our dishes, wash our clothes. We don't know the health effects. Is it bad for us?" Juan Reyes said.

"I feel they neglected us as a community. As a community we would've appreciated it if they would've told us from the beginning," a resident said.

Southern New Mexicans KFOX14 spoke with said they were frustrated with the CRRUA who knew their water was not safe for customers.

"We discovered this issue about three days ago we began to flush lines at that time in order work on getting the pH," Brent Westmoreland, the Executive Director for CRRUA, said.

Residents said they've been reaching out to CRRUA but have been getting no response.

"Multiple people trying to get a hold of them. We weren't getting any answers to our calls. No voicemails being returned. We weren't getting notified of anything," Daniel Portillo said.

"[I'm] angry because they haven't reached out to us. No way, no form. I have kids, my wife, I don't know how it's affecting us," Reyes said.

"We're just discarded. They know they're the only utility and they don't have to compete and they don't notify us and it feels oddly timed that they wait until Friday night," Portillo said.

CRRUA said they've been working on the problem and have been monitoring pH levels and residents should expect to be able to use the water by tomorrow.

"Now we're going to have to find other alternatives probably get a hotel or find family members or someone who can let us use their house. Do what we gotta do," Reyes said.

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