Moncks Corner, South Carolina. A Moncks Corner company owner claims flooding on his land has gotten worse, and he blames new homes built just behind his lot.
Art Nichols has owned and operated Nichols Equipment, located off Highway 52, for over 20 years. He claimed that the troubles arose after the latest phase of a local subdivision was built behind his business on property that was formerly wetlands.
“When I bought this place, everything behind me was wetlands,” Nichols recalled. “Now they’ve built these homes, they put up this fence, now I have a water problem.”
Nichols claims the flooding makes his lot too wet to use after heavy rain, ruining the land and costing him hundreds of dollars to upkeep.
“It runs anywhere from eight-fifty to nine hundred dollars on average,” he informed me. “But it’s something we’ve got to keep putting in, because this is our livelihood.”
He stated that his ditch is entirely clogged, allowing the water nowhere to go.
“The ditch back over here is completely blocked off,” Nichols explained. “So my water has nowhere to get out.”
Nichols said he’s been dealing with the local of Moncks Corner and Berkeley County since June, and at one point, local officials told the developer to cease construction. However, he stated that the flooding had resumed.
“We’ve had good ground for twenty years, twenty plus years,” Nichols told the crowd. “But now we’re fighting a battle.”
Berkeley County officials stated that Nichols’ property is part of the county’s stormwater system, but the surrounding development is under the town’s control.
The Town of Moncks Corner said in a statement that it appreciates the concerns voiced about runoff near the Oakley Pointe development, which is still under construction.
“We are actively working together with the developer, home builder, and the nearby property owner to find a thoughtful and lasting solution,” the statement read. “Our goal is to put in place a professionally engineered stormwater management plan that not only addresses the current situation but also helps prevent future problems.”
Nichols expressed hope that the idea would be implemented quickly.
“My ground here has become like a sponge,” he noted. “Until a ditch is dug and that fence is removed, the water’s just going to keep backing up.”
