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County Official Says Improvements on Progreso Drainage System Ahead

6 years 1 month 5 days ago Wednesday, February 21 2018 Feb 21, 2018 February 21, 2018 5:58 PM February 21, 2018 in News

PROGRESO – Some residents from a Progreso neighborhood say the relief they've waited for years could finally be on the way.

Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 and Irrigation District No. 5 entered an inter-local agreement last week to improve drainage in the Progreso area.

The drainage district will take over the maintenance duties of just more than 19 miles of drainage ditches in the area.

"If it rains a lot, it will cause a flood," Edna Rodriguez, a Progreso resident, tell CHANNEL 5 NEWS. "If it rains just a little, it's just at the entrance. But if it rains for more time, it will flood the street."

Rodriguez says frequent flooding leaves her and others in the neighborhood, located south of Malone Drive, feeling uneasy.

"One gets scared because we think it might reach the house, but thank God it hasn't reached at the moment," she says. 

Hidalgo County Drainage District No. 1 spokesperson Raul Sesin tells us his crews will remove sludge and debris, and keep vegetation from growing too large in the ditch itself.

"We improve the ditch itself, maintain it, keep it clean, improve any crossings that are existing, just to allow the system to function more efficiently," said Sesin.

He says the improvements will reduce friction in the system. According to him, less friction means water will flow more efficiently.

Sesin says he anticipates improvements could take up to nine months.

"We believe that once we take over the system, maintain it and improve it, the probability of flooding is going to be reduced and for sure the amount of time that any area may be under water will be greatly reduced," he says. 

Sesin wants to remind the public to avoid dumping illegally in the ditches.

Rodriguez is relieved something is being done about the problem that's plagued her neighborhood for years.

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