City of Yuma and residents on alert for stormwater drain back-up

Rainfall expected throughout Tuesday

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA)- Anytime there’s rain in the forecast, the City of Yuma Public Works crews are on alert with a system underway.

The crews watch out for certain troubled areas, particularly when the rain comes down in large amounts in a short period of time.

This causes stormwater drains to back up, especially in areas around First Avenue and 22nd Street, Palo Verde and Arizona Avenue, and a few neighborhoods to the west of 4th Avenue.

Many of these neighborhoods have storm sewer systems right in the middle of the street or in front of homes.

So, whenever there’s significant rainfall, residents tend to experience street flooding.

Resident, Odessa Gilmore has lived near 5th Avenue and 19th Street for 42-years. She said the when it rains, the water is always flooded and it's a problem.

Another resident told News 11, “I mean it gets pretty flooded and everyone decides to go through the middle of the water and it comes close up to the house.”

City of Yuma's Dave Nash said, “If the water is backing up to your property, then its a problem for your property. Stormwater backing up on your street is also potentially a problem for drivers. If you do happen to notice large amounts of water, it's best if you have a low clearance vehicle to not try to drive through it."

There is a project in the works, lead by the Yuma County Flood Control District to construct a basin near Smucker Park to retain large amounts of stormwater.

Once that project is built, the city says troubled areas, such as First Avenue and 22nd Street, should not back up to the degree that it does now.