El Paso Water Spotlights Ed Fierro for the 2018 Engineers Week

Ed Fierro Water Distribution Systems Manager In his younger years, Ed Fierro found a Time Life book at the library with the cover art of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He was hooked. As he cracked open the book and saw the multitudes of bridges and dams, he knew he was destined to become an engineer. Ed began his career with an internship program at the New Mexico Department of Transportation in the early 1990s, and today Ed works as the Water Distribution Systems Manager at El Paso Water. As head of this department, Ed oversees a crew of nearly 95 employees that focus on emergency response, on-going maintenance and replacement of pipes and facilities. His department is committed to finding ways to improve efficiency and minimize the impact on customers. Recently they began using high-tech robots with electromagnetic sensors to conduct condition assessments for critical water mains 48-inch in diameter and larger. “I get to learn something new every day,” said Fierro. “It’s interesting to study when and why water mains break and how to repair them in the most efficient and effective ways. Engineering is important because it’s where we apply our knowledge in math and physics. Civil engineering touches more people than any other engineering field.” Ed received his Bachelor’s Degree from New Mexico State University in Civil Engineering with a specialty in structural engineering. As he looks forward to retirement in the not too distant future, he is confident in the work EPWater is doing to make El Paso a great place to live today and tomorrow. For the next generation of engineers, Ed says, “If you want to make a positive impact in peoples’ lives, engineering is for you.”