If you’ve lived in Dallas long enough, you know flooding can be an issue.
For decades, the City of Dallas has been working to fix the problem. Susan Alvarez is with Trinity Watershed Management.
“It’s been an ongoing challenge to provide flood protection to a growing urban area,"
On Tuesday, Alvarez said the city made a big accomplishment. Water spouted near Riverfront Boulevard as the city tested a water pump at the new Able Stormwater Pump Station. This station will eventually take all local drainage from Dallas and pump it into the river.
The new pump station will be able to pump 880,000 gallons per minute, compared to the original station that could pump 220,000 gallons per minute. Alvarez said it’s time for a replacement. The new Able Stormwater Pump Station is expected to be completed in late 2018 to early 2019.
Maria and Ada Gomez have lived near the Continental Bridge for 11 years. They remember the large flood in June 2009. They describe the water up to their shoulders. They remember only being able to see the tops of trees and street signs. “And there were a lot of cars that were not working,” said Ada Gomez, “because water was inside.”
The Gomez family is feeling hopeful about the new pump station. They say some neighbors moved away because of flooding problems in the area. Their home has lucky enough to be spared in the past years, but they say any type of flood prevention is important.