Enchanted Hills flooding condemns one home; El Paso Water plans drainage improvements

Enchanted Hills flooding condemns one home; El Paso Water plans drainage improvements by Emily Schmalz Tue, November 10, 2026 at 4:15 PM 6 VIEW ALL PHOTOS Severe weather prompted emergency response efforts across El Paso on Saturday evening (Credit:KFOX14/CBS4) Comment on this story 0 Comment Share story Share topics: Enchanted Hills El Paso Water Flooding Drainage improvements Storm runoff Retention pond FEMA Bill credits EL PASO, TEXAS (KFOX14/CBS4) — Flooding near Enchanted Hills that left one home condemned and damaged several others has prompted El Paso Water to plan drainage improvements, utility officials said during a meeting today. Officials said last month’s storm dropped six-tenths of an inch of rain in as little as eight to 15 minutes — equivalent to more than 2.4 inches in an hour. The downpour and hail sent runoff racing down an upstream arroyo, carrying mud, vegetation and debris into the neighborhood. El Paso Water CEO John Balliew said the surge overwhelmed the existing drainage system. “The amount of water that came through just overwhelmed the system. It ended up overtopping some of the garden walls there and swept down the street,” Balliew said. RECOMMENDED: Enchanted Hills flooding leaves one family displaced as cleanup continues Balliew said the neighborhood already has underground drainage conduits and a retention pond built by the developer. “The developer designed and constructed what he was required to do by the city's Drainage Design Manual and subdivision ordinance. No matter what type of system you design, there could be a rainstorm that's going to overwhelm the system,” Balliew said. FEMA said the area was once a flood zone in 2018 but was removed after the developer submitted an approved letter of map revision. El Paso Water said it is now looking at a new retention wall to help direct runoff, which would be developed on an adjacent private property. Balliew said the utility needs access to that property before it can move forward. “We need to have access to that property to put in some sort of temporary structure and the retaining wall, which would be permanent,” Balliew said. RECOMMENDED: Family displaced after flooding leaves home uninhabitable in northwest El Paso Balliew said there may also be a longer-term solution further upstream. Plans to develop that area could include a series of ponds designed to capture water before it reaches the neighborhood. “Once that's developed, then something like this would probably be much less likely because there would be upstream ponds storing the water and a series of upstream structures,” Balliew said. The projects could help reduce the amount of runoff reaching homes downstream, but Balliew said there is no set completion date for the improvements. El Paso Water says it plans to pursue bill credits for residents who used excess water to clean mud from affected homes. The utility did not provide additional details about what the credits would mean for residents. A request for more information from El Paso Water was not answered in time for publication. Sign up to receive the top interesting stories from in and around our community once daily in your inbox. Trending Two women sought in Lower Valley apartment assault Authorities in El Paso are looking for two women suspected of assaulting a woman in connection with an assault at an apartment complex in the Lower Valley. Trash truck hits bridge pillar on US 54 frontage at Trowbridge; 1 seriously injured Crash on the southbound US 54 frontage road at Trowbridge has shut down the left two lanes, TxDOT El Paso says. Major backups reported, with no estimated clearing time. Drivers should expect delays. Veterans Day: El Paso restaurants, retailers offer free meals and discounts El Paso Veterans Day deals hit Wednesday: free meals at Chili’s, Applebee’s, Golden Corral and more, plus Great Clips haircuts, 50% off Jiffy Lube, Target 20% off, and a noon cookout. Verify rules first. New Starbucks drive-thru planned near Anthony Starbucks is planning a new 1,933-square-foot drive-thru at 9405 S. Desert Blvd. in Anthony, Texas, near the New Mexico line. A state filing lists a $1.25M buildout with estimated construction July to Sept. 2027. El Paso police identify teen killed after being struck on North Loop in the Lower Valley El Paso police have identified an 18-year-old woman who died after being struck by a vehicle late Friday on North Loop.Mary Louise Brooks was the pedestrian involved in the fatal collision, which happened Friday, Nov. 6, NEWS IN PHOTOS: " Local " 6 NEW Enchanted Hills flooding condemns one home; El Paso Water plans drainage improvements 5 NEW EPISD to start community meetings on potential bond after delaying decision to May 2027 11 11 arrested in investigation of Montana Hideaway in alleged prostitution operation 12 El Paso police identify teen killed after being struck on North Loop in the Lower Valley