Kenneth and Tracie Tervalon say they're tired of living in a swamp.

For 10 years the couple has lived on Wallace Street in southwestern Simi Valley and dealt with the overflowing gutters, slippery sidewalks and muddy lawns caused by the area's high groundwater table.

The stagnant water, algae and moss in front of their home, and their neighbors' homes, attract mosquitoes, and the Tervalons say they're concerned for the health and safety of their 2yearold daughter.

"My main concern is my child. We can't take her out front because she might slip and fall and hurt herself," Kenneth Tervalon said. "She wants to go riding her tricycle, and we have to go farther up the street or take her to the park."

Although the Tervalons say that their house is the worst of those affected by the water seepage, other Wallace Street residents are similarly fed up with their sidewalks being flooded and their quality of life compromised.

Calls to public works are no help. Officials say the city doesn't have the funds it needs for a permanent fix.

"The solution is not a simple solution," said Ron Fuchiwaki, director of public works. "It's a multimillion-dollar solution, a long-term solution."

Fuchiwaki said the city has received numerous complaints over the years from the Wallace Street area as well as other neighborhoods, like the Greek tract, regarding high groundwater problems, which are particularly bad during the rainy season.

Due to limited resources, the city has been able to address the issues only through maintenance.

About two years ago, public works employees came out to the neighborhood and drilled holes in the curb to drain built-up groundwater into the street. But over time, dirt, grass and debris have clogged the holes, making them ineffective.

The city has also increased street sweeping along Wallace, and maintenance crews come out about once a month to power wash the sidewalks, cleaning off algae or slippery substances.

"But, you know, that's just adding more water to the situation," Kenneth Tervalon said. His wife agreed.

"They're just putting a BandAid on it," Tracie Tervalon said. "You can sweep it off into the gutter, and within an hour it's back."

Tom Gomez, the Tervalons' next-door neighbor, said he thinks the city should try to collect the groundwater for reuse.

"I just don't understand how . . . we're in a severe drought and I've been on a street that's been flooded for seven years," he said. "For seven years, water's been running down my gutter 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That's a lot of water."

Other residents have suggested pumping the water into the Arroyo Simi, but because of stormwater regulations, the water would have to be treated first.

Joe Deakin, assistant director of public works, said the Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board requires that water removed by any mechanical means, such as pumping, cannot be discharged into surface water unless it meets certain criteria.

He added that the groundwater along Wallace is poor quality and contains elements that would be detrimental to the Arroyo.

"It can change the character of the creek and cause impacts to living organisms and animals," Deakin said.

Gomez blames abandoned, uncapped wells under the neighborhood for the problem. He said the city should tap into the wells, pump the water into storage tanks and use the reclaimed water for irrigation purposes.

While it wouldn't be a cheap fix, Gomez said, he believes the water saved would be worth the investment.

Deakin said that while there are abandoned, uncapped wells throughout the valley, he's not sure they're to blame for the high groundwater. Also, he said, tapping into these wells would most likely not be a practical alternative, primarily because the quality of the water is poor even for irrigation.

Fuchiwaki estimated the permanent solution—a pumping and treatment program—would cost at least $5 million.

He added that the city is looking at the federal economic stimulus package to see if there is any funding available to initiate the project, but nothing has been found yet.

While the city has said it cares about the frustrations of residents on Wallace Street, Tracie Tervalon is not convinced.

"I feel put off. Ignored," she said. "I feel like it's just not a priority."

Deakin said the city is doing the best it can to deal with the natural phenomenon while maintaining the streets and sidewalks.

"We're concerned that the citizens live in a safe neighborhood with a good quality of life, and we do what we can to provide that," he said.

"But this one's a challenging one, and we are continuing to look at better ways to take care of it."