El Paso Water Utilities congratulates customers for significantly reducing water consumption in 2012

Annual water consumption down more than half-a-billion gallons compared to last year

Year-end water consumption tallies once again prove that El Pasoans have adopted the “Less is the New More” lifestyle – conserving water, protecting our natural resources, and living more responsibly in the Chihuahuan Desert.

§  Collectively, customers of EPWU used 637 million gallons fewer in 2012 than in 2011.

§  Individually, each El Pasoan served by EPWU used an average of 134 gallons per day in 2012, down from 139 gallons per person per day in 2011.

“Congratulations and thank you to El Pasoans for once again proving why this community is a world-wide leader in water conservation,” said EPWU Vice President John Balliew. “Living in the Chihuahuan Desert, we each have a responsibility to conserve. The less water we use today, the more we’ll have tomorrow. That’s why we say LESS is the new MORE.”

While conservation is a decades-long commitment for El Pasoans, Balliew explained the need to conserve will remain especially important in 2013. Because of drought in New Mexico and Colorado, the reservoirs on which EPWU relies for much of the city’s drinking water remain very low. Therefore, El Paso Water Utilities anticipates a severely reduced river water supply again in the New Year.

While EPWU is drilling new wells, building new pipelines, and extending the network of “purple pipes” which delivers reclaimed water for irrigation and industrial use, conservation is a key stepping stone on the path to sustainability.

Updates on the region’s on-going drought along with resources to help El Pasoans conserve can be found at EPWU’s Water Conservation Web site: LessisMoreEP.org.

Zaragoza To Completely Close Tonight

It will be necessary to COMPLETELY CLOSE the North and southbound lanes of Zaragoza (FM 659) between Joe Battle Blvd. and Sun Fire Blvd.

This operation will be in place tonight, December 20 at 9 p.m. to the following morning at 6 a.m.

DETOUR:

     Southbound traffic along Zaragoza will need to take Sun Fire to Montwood

     Northbound traffic along Zaragoza will need to take Montwood to Sun Fire

El Paso Zoo Delayed Opening

The El Paso Zoo will be opening at noon due to icy pathways on zoo grounds.

Sun Metro Service Advisory

Sun Metro's fixed-route service will be running on the regular schedule with some minor delays caused by icy road conditions.

 

There are some service delays for the LIFT, paratransit service, because of unsafe road conditions around the LIFT’s primary facility at 5081 Fred Wilson.

 

Sun Metro passengers are asked to please have patience as drivers work through the icy conditions. The public is asked to please be courteous to Sun Metro buses and fellow commuters to help prevent unnecessary accidents and anxiety.

 

For more information about the Sun Metro fixed-route service, call 533-3333.

For more information about the LIFT service, call 544-2514.

 

We will continue to monitor the weather and provide updates via email and Facebook as the day progresses.

Municipal Court Sessions Cancelled

Presiding Judge Robledo has canceled all remaining Municipal Court sessions for today.

Additionally, court sessions for Friday morning, December 4, 2013 that begin at 7:00 am through 8:30 am also are cancelled. 

Cases automatically will be reset for a future date.

The following roads have been closed | 1/3/13

I-10 Eastbound Exit Ramp to US 54 (north)

 

US 54 Northbound at the Bridge of the Americas

Traffic is being detoured to Paisano Dr.

 

Joe Battle (Loop 375) Southbound at Edgemere

Fort Bliss Closure due to weather conditions

Fort Bliss officials have declared personnel will be
released at 11 a.m. today (Jan. 3) due to severe weather conditions. For
tomorrow (Jan. 4), only key and essential personnel are to report for duty.

Information concerning medical appointments and facilities
associated with William Beaumont Army Medical Center will be forthcoming.