When it rains, water creates a swampy mess not only in Sandra Moore's backyard but also in the crawl space below her house.

"At times it's been up to the entrance to the crawl space,” she said.

Moore has been trying to keep the water at bay every rainy season since she moved into her home in 1981. She's on her fourth sump pump and she's had to have her home inspected for mold and treated for termites.

Her neighbors' yards on are in similar shape and it's not just a problem on Monte Vista Avenue in east Springfield. The city's storm water engineers have identified 2,500 drainage problems.

To fix them, it would cost $700 million. The problem is the city doesn't have the funds.

Several years ago, taxpayers approved a bond issue to help pay for storm water projects but most of those projects have been completed.

"At this point, we have spent all that money or have got it assigned for specific projects that we're working on. So, at this point in time, we are not able to take on any more projects until we get additional funding,” said Todd Wagner, a city storm water engineer.

Wagner says his department has dealt with the worst problem areas but others will have to wait until the budget improves.

"It gets old,” said Moore.

Moore has discussed the matter with several city officials who have told her the situation will be addressed but probably not anytime soon. In the meantime, she'll continue to do what she can to keep the water down and her spirit up.

"I try to keep a sense of humor but it's not easy,” she said.

Moore says she's probably spent nearly $2,000 over the years trying to repair the problem.