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Greenwood homeowners press city to address chronic backyard flooding; council asks for engineering analysis
Summary
Homeowners from Rockland Ridge told the Town of Greenwood on Aug. 18 that repeated backyard flooding has left standing water, damaged yards and health concerns. Council asked staff to obtain a civil-engineer assessment of the drainage system and work with homeowners; no city-funded remediation was approved at the meeting.
Homeowners from the Rockland Ridge homeowners association told the Town of Greenwood council on Aug. 18 that recurring backyard flooding — including a five-month episode earlier this year — stems from an overwhelmed 8‑inch field tile and blocked drainage swales that carry runoff toward a 30‑inch culvert under 5 Points Road.
The homeowners asked the council to help identify a fix after describing standing water, mosquitoes and repeated yard flooding that they say damaged landscaping and created health concerns. The council did not approve a city-funded repair at the meeting; instead, members directed staff to obtain civil‑engineering recommendations and to continue working with the HOA and outside engineers.
The homeowners said the problem worsened during gas‑line work along 5 Points Road when soil and construction staging reportedly blocked the drainage path and kept water from flowing downstream. “We had a 5 month flood because of the problem that was caused,” said a Rockland Ridge resident representing the HOA, describing water backing into five backyards and persistent standing water. Residents said the 8‑inch steel pipe installed decades ago is routinely overwhelmed and that the water flows across property lines into neighboring yards.
Paul, a city engineering staff member, told the council that the town’s stormwater and engineering technicians have communicated recommended next steps and that an outside civil engineer will be needed to diagnose a repair plan. “We sent around, we converse on this quite some length. And our stormwater department and our engineering technicians set forth some recommendations of what before we could consider addressing the issue…would have to happen,” Paul said.
Homeowners showed photos of the flooded fields, the outflow pipes and soil piles they say were left near the worksite. One resident noted the safety risk to 5 Points Road, saying the top of the 30‑inch culvert is only a few inches below the road surface during high flow, creating a potential roadway hazard.
Council members repeatedly told residents the town wants to help but needs an engineering analysis that identifies the specific repairs and who would bear the cost. “Let’s get Project Plus to identify the problem and identify the fix. Then we can take the next step: whose responsibility is the fix?” a council member said, directing staff to coordinate with Project Plus and other engineers the HOA has contacted.
Council members and staff said they will continue to work with the HOA, the engineers the homeowners retain, and the town’s stormwater division to define options and responsibilities. No vote to authorize work or to allocate town funds occurred at the Aug. 18 meeting.
Residents said they will continue to pursue an engineered solution and to share the analysis with the town so a formal decision on repairs and assignment of responsibility can follow.
Ending — The council asked staff to help homeowners secure a civil‑engineering assessment and to return with findings and recommended next steps. The town did not announce a timeline for receiving the engineering report or for any subsequent council action.
