Lower Valley water well repairs lead to flooded streets for residents

EL PASO, Texas -- Lower Valley residents on Benson Drive are concerned after rehabilitation of a water well left their street filled with water.

El Paso Water Resources Manager Scott Reinert said repairs on the water well forced them to drain it out.

Reinert told ABC-7 that while the well is one of 128 throughout the city, it is unique.

He said most wells have a ponding area nearby for water retention purposes, but this particular one is limited with insufficient ponding - so they had to drain down the street.

He explained that once the well meets state standards, then it will go back in service and water will stop running down the road.

The water runs down the street and into a basin miles away. Still, residents are upset that they were not informed.

“They won't even advise us. I could take my car and probably move it somewhere else, but they don’t give me the opportunity,” said resident Victor Perales.

Some who live in the neighborhood said the water is a nuisance and looks like a river in the middle of the road.

One resident said that some have been parking their cars in the opposite direction in order to be able to leave their homes and not go against the current.

Those living in the area are also concerned about the waste of water and worried that it could escalate to something worse

"As a matter of fact, they could run into somebody's car, or some kid could come out in the street to play in the water and could become a casualty," said resident Ray Evanouski.

“The public might look at it as waiting water, but it is something that's necessary,” explained Reinert. “Have a little patience with us as we’re trying to keep all our wells running and the wells need to meet the state standards prior to being used.”