State of emergency declared for Tortosa flooding

Maricopa is in a state of emergency after heavy rainfall Tuesday 7 p.m. to midnight caused a backup of the sewage system, overwhelming the sewer pumping station, according to a media advisory from the city.

Mayor Christian Price declared the emergency in the advent of additional rain and for financial and resources assistance.

Residents of the northwest Tortosa subdivision woke up to a sewage issue when heavy rainfall accumulated and caused a backup of the sewage system, overwhelming the Global Water pumping station responsible for the area.

Global Water was going door-to-door Wednesday checking for related problems.

Public works crews were dispatched to various locations throughout the city and several roads were closed because of flash flooding.

Access to the area is restricted. The Maricopa public works department is working in conjunction with the police and fire department to keep the area clear.

At approximately 7 a.m. Wednesday, road crews reported a large amount of water in the Tortosa area of Dalli Lane and Madrid Avenue.

The water, which travels through the Casa Blanca drainage channel, is runoff from the Sacaton Mountains and had begun to flow down Dalli Lane towards a large water retention area.

***ADVERTISEMENT***Although four homes in the area were directly affected, at the time the advisory was sent out at approximately 2 p.m., there were no reports of flooding in the homestead.

At approximately 4 p.m., Jon Sheaffer, Maricopa Fire Department public information officer, said the area was slowing improving.

“It’s slowing but surely getting down and starting to flow down the river,” Schaeffer said.