Background
Angels Park is located approximately 20 miles southeast of the city of El Paso and is within the water and wastewater service area of the Lower Valley Water District (LVWD). Residents of Angels Park currently use on-site systems such as septic tanks to manage their wastewater. Many of the septic systems are nearly 30 years old, have not been adequately maintained and have reached the end of their anticipated service lives. Moreover, the lot size in Angels Park is typically a third of an acre, which is smaller than the half acre standard established in the state regulations for septic systems. The proximity of the drain fields poses an increased risk of contamination, since they are more likely to become saturated, reducing their capacity to filter the wastewater effectively.
El Paso County, in coordination with LVWD, spearheaded the development and construction of a wastewater collection system supported by funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). The new sewer system was completed in April 2025, except for the residential connections and the decommissioning of the existing on-site septic systems, which is generally the responsibility of the homeowner. However, many Angels Park residents are unable to cover the construction cost, and the ARPA funds are insufficient.
Project Scope
The project consists of installing 322 residential wastewater connections and decommissioning the existing on-site septic systems or cesspools at each residence.
Benefits
The project will provide first-time access to wastewater collection and treatment services for residents in Angels Park and eliminate failing septic systems, thus reducing the potential for groundwater contamination and human health risks associated with waterborne diseases caused by exposure to untreated wastewater. Approximately 82,400 gallons per day (gpd) of wastewater will be collected and treated.
