A devastating water main rupture has rendered a family's home in El Paso unlivable, prompting the local utility to propose a buyout.
In a heart-wrenching situation, a homeowner in northeast El Paso, Candy Arellano, expressed her deep concerns on Friday regarding her precarious living conditions. The recent break of a water main has not only displaced her family of ten but has also resulted in their residence on Gschwind Street being labeled as uninhabitable by El Paso Water.
The break created a significant hole in the backyard, which led to extensive damage inside the house. Arellano revealed that the home's foundation and overall structure have been compromised, making it unsafe for habitation.
Since the incident occurred last Saturday night, El Paso Water has taken steps to assist the family by providing them with temporary hotel accommodations.
On Friday, Arellano shared insights into her ongoing discussions with the utility company, stating they have expressed interest in purchasing both her home and the vacant property adjacent to it. "We talked to EP Water, and they confirmed that our home is uninhabitable, meaning we cannot return. They’ve offered to buy our house now. For the time being, we will have another week in the hotel rooms we are currently in," she explained.
However, uncertainty looms large for Arellano beyond next week, as she described her living situation as "up in the air." Her immediate focus is on salvaging as many personal belongings as possible from the house. "Our plan is to go back on Tuesday to retrieve what we can. We’ll be taking anything that wasn’t affected by the water, which might be very limited," Arellano mentioned.
For her and her family, the emotional toll has been significant. Arellano expressed her hopes that El Paso Water genuinely comprehends the gravity of their situation. "I hope EP Water realizes just how severe this is for us. We lost pets and cherished memories; our family has lived there for generations. You simply can’t put a price on that loss. It’s heartbreaking. My mother keeps saying all she wants are the photographs, as all of those precious memories are inside the house," she said with a heavy heart.
