Background

LVWD owns and operates the water distribution and wastewater collection systems in the district. All of its water is supplied by the El Paso Water Utility (EPWU); it does not have its own water source. Likewise, it does not own a wastewater treatment facility. All of the district’s wastewater is treated at EPWU’s Robert Bustamante Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). LVWD and EPWU have an interlocal agreement that allows LVWD to purchase water from EPWU and send up to 6 million gallons a day (mgd) of wastewater flows to EPWU for treatment at the Bustamante WWTP. Currently, LVWD conveys an average of 2 mgd to the Bustamante plant for treatment.

Residents of Cotton Valley are currently connected to LVWD’s water system and use on-site treatment systems, such as septic tanks, to manage residential wastewater. Area residents have complained to LVWD about wastewater overflows, failing tanks and strong odors.

The project will connect to LVWD’s existing wastewater collection infrastructure along North Loop Road. Collected wastewater will be treated at the Robert Bustamante WWTP. The average flow from theCotton Valley Colonia is estimated to be 20.6 gallons per minute (gpm).

Description

The proposed project consists of the construction of a new wastewater
collection system to provide first-time sewer service to the residents of
Cotton Valley. The system includes the following components:

• 740 linear feet of 18-inch PVC SDR 35 sewer pipe
• 1,430 linear feet of 12-inch PVC SDR 35 sewer pipe
• 3,470 linear feet of 8-inch PVC SDR 35 sewer pipe
• 22 48-inch concrete manhole structures
• 78 service laterals and connections
• Decommissioning of 78 septic systems

The entire Cotton Valley sewer line will use gravity lines, and the new system will connect to an existing sewer system, which uses both gravity lines and lift stations.

Benefits

The wastewater collection system will provide wastewater collection and treatment services to 78 new sewer hookups, thus eliminating approximately 30,000 gallons per day of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater discharges. This project will also help reduce the risk of waterborne diseases for residents of Cotton Valley, El Paso, Juarez, and the entire region by reducing the potential for contamination of local and shared water bodies, such the Rio Grande River.