Developers and builders may complete basic utility installations, such as this manhole construction in Montana Vista.
El Paso Water is giving local builders and developers the green light to complete basic utility installations, saving both the utility and developers time and related costs on construction projects.
Previously, only EPWater crews could perform manhole and fire hydrant installations, manhole connections and fire hydrant relocations. In allowing builders and developers to handle the installations, the new Limited Scope Development Agreement (LSDA) makes our crews immediately available to pursue the utility’s priority projects around the city.
Multiple advantages
The benefits are plentiful. The agreement puts project management in the hands of the development community, which is no longer dependent on the availability of our crews.
The developer may hire a contractor from our pre-approved list of companies, with the necessary experience to complete the work. Not waiting on EPWater crews – who often are responding to water emergencies – means the project schedule can proceed uninterrupted without costly delays. We strive to ease the entire design and construction process with the LSDA, which resulted from a series of conversations with stakeholders in land development, commercial construction and residential building communities. Developers and builders pay a $500 fee to enter into an LSDA with the utility, and EPWater will inspect the work to ensure that the infrastructure is in compliance with our Design Standards and Specifications.
Coming soon
We are eager to work with our local development community to facilitate the construction process even further and are working on other initiatives focusing on innovative internal camera technologies that inspect water and wastewater mains (camera by a third party) as well as operating and maintaining the pipe that connects homes’ or businesses’ plumbing to our wastewater system (sanitary sewer service laterals). Once specifications are finalized, we hope to roll out new initiatives next year.
Our door is always open to our stakeholders, especially on matters of shaping future process innovation. Collaborations ultimately benefit our customers in our mission to ensure long-term sustainability as well as safe, reliable and high-quality water and service for El Paso’s future.
For more information on the LDSA, please contact Adriana Castillo, Engineering Division Manager of Planning and Development, at 915-594-5538 or via email at acastillo@epwater.org or Maria Betancourt, Utility Engineer Associate, at 915-594-5672 or via email at mbetancourt@epwater.org.
On the Water Front is a publication of El Paso Water.
Contact Christina Montoya at 915.594.5596 or cmontoya@epwater.org with any comments or questions.
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