TAMPA, Fla. — Residents in Shore Acres said tidal street flooding has been happening every day, for the past two weeks, in areas where it normally doesn't occur as frequently, and they wonder if the problem is connected to newly installed backflow preventers.

"We are aware of it and are investigating," said Claude Tankersley, St. Petersburg Public Works Director. "We are not 100 percent certain yet what is happening."

Resident Bandar Elheresh, 28, has lived in Shore Acres for nearly four years. Elheresh said tidal flood water pooling at the intersection by his home at Connecticut Ave. N.E. and Huntington St. N.E. has become much more severe and frequent. It reached 13 days in a row on Thursday, according to Elheresh.

"It has gotten worse that we see it multiple times a day," he said. "I remember last year and the year before. I will see that once a week, twice a week sometimes... but not every day."

In April, public works began installing the first batch of new backflow preventers for the lowest lying neighborhood in the city to try and prevent sunny day or tidal flooding. The devices hold the seawater back from bubbling up storm drains and onto the streets during a high tide.

The city council approved the $3.75 million project in February. Tankersley said so far, they've installed 39-of-56 new backflow preventers, which appear to be functioning properly.

"When we drain a stormwater vault and test a backflow preventer, they are found to be watertight and working," he said. "We believe much of the recent flooding is happening where the valves have not yet been installed."

Tankersley said they've noticed once the water enters the street at an unprotected outfall it runs downhill and pools where a backflow preventer already exists, which gives the impression the valve may not be working.