City officials in Summerville are maintaining a close watch on the downtown area as persistent flooding issues continue to plague the core business district, with more rain predicted throughout the week. The ongoing concerns are exacerbated by historically high water levels in Town Creek, which officials have identified as the primary cause of the extensive inundation.

Summerville city officials maintain that the drainage tiles themselves are not obstructed internally. Instead, the root of the problem has been determined to be the exceptionally high levels reached by Town Creek during recent heavy rain events. When the creek swells, it creates restrictions in the drainage tiles that flow from the south end of Downtown Summerville, along Highway 114, and along Highway 48. Crews have observed water backing up from these restricted tiles, which then recedes as Town Creek’s water levels lower.

Further investigations by crews from both the City of Summerville and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) have focused on Town Creek’s flow south of Summerville, including crossings into the Ingles parking lot and along and south of Bellah Avenue. These inspections determined that Town Creek itself was open and flowing with no major restrictions noted in those specific areas. Additional assessments of the creek extending south from Jones Street to the Red Oak Road area were conducted over the weekend.

In response to the continuing threat and the forecast for more storms, the City of Summerville Police and Fire Departments are maintaining heightened vigilance. They will continue to monitor incoming rain, any potential backups along Highway 27, 114, and 48, and Town Creek levels, and will issue specific alerts if necessary.

Acknowledging the profound impact these recurring flooding events have had on local businesses and residents, the City of Summerville stated its commitment to closely monitoring the situation. Officials confirmed they are actively working to identify and implement strategies to increase the capacity for water removal from storm drains into Town Creek, particularly in anticipation of future heavy, short-duration rainfall events.