Water Infrastructure
El Paso Recycles Treated Water Back Into the Aquifer
El Paso Water sends treated water into infiltration ponds so it soaks back into the Hueco Bolson aquifer underground.
The Hueco Bolson aquifer under El Paso has been pumped hard for decades. To help it last longer, El Paso Water built infiltration ponds. Treated water flows into these ponds and slowly soaks back into the ground. This refills — or recharges — the aquifer. The city found this method cost less than using injection wells to push water underground.
El Paso also runs a desalination plant. Desalination removes brackish minerals — meaning slightly salty — from the Hueco Bolson water. That makes it safe to drink. A separate plant removes arsenic from Mesilla Bolson water. These projects show how seriously the city takes water management in a dry desert region. If you are new here: water is a managed resource. It is not unlimited.
Source to confirm: El Paso Water — Aquifer Recharge