New River project damaged due to rain showers

Project is aimed to improve and manage the wastewater that runs from Mexicali and flows into the Salton Sea

CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The New River project in Calexico was damaged due to the rainfall two weeks ago and now the city is currently strategizing ways to fix those damages.

City Councilmember Raul Urena said the New River flooded with sewage waste from across the border.

Urena said this impacted the construction site of the new River Improvement Project.

According to Urena, there's about $4 million worth of damages.

“Construction is still ongoing as planned but we now have a couple million dollar deficit that we as a city have to figure out how we are going to resolve so that we can complete the project.," stated Urena.

The city plans to discuss ways to tackle this issue at its next city council meeting.

The New River Improvement Project is in phase one.

The project consists of the construction of a garbage mesh, a diversion structure as a component, a pumping system, and the construction of a pipeline among other works that will reduce the pollutants that the residents of that area have suffered for years.