ADAMS TWP — One year after a group of residents from White Water Drive and their lawyer took their water runoff concerns to the township supervisors, the soggy issue continues.

The residents, who live below a Ryan Homes neighborhood being built in their Adams Ridge plan by C.J. Betters Enterprises, say the runoff problem occurred when roads in the new neighborhood were paved and water began running down the hill and into their yards and, in some cases, basements.

At last year’s June township meeting, the residents’ attorney, John Corcoran of Jones, Gregg, Creehan and Gerace in Pittsburgh, told the supervisors that myriad problems had resulted from the runoff.

“We want the township to be aware of the issue so you can assist us in bringing this matter to complete resolution,” Corcoran told the supervisors last year.

Supervisors Chairman Donald Aiken at that time promised to cooperate with the residents to get their water issues solved.

“We will try to work with you and the homeowners, and (township code enforcement and zoning officer) Gary (Peaco), with whatever we need to do,” Aiken said.

Peaco said he had met with the Adams Ridge Homeowners Association, developer Chuck Betters, and others last June regarding the situation. He said the association’s engineers walked the area and planned to issue a report, including recommendations, within a month from that time.

Corcoran said on Wednesday that engineers have issued a report, and that action would be taken within two weeks. He could not say what that action will be.

Peaco said Thursday that per the recommendations in a report issued by the Adams Ridge Homeowners Association engineers, township workers made some changes to storm drains on Adams Pointe Boulevard.

“But I don’t think that’s the problem,” Peaco said.

He said the fracturing of rock in the new neighborhood, an unmaintained swale there, and an ineffective rain garden where trees and shrubs were planted to soak up excess water are some of the theories for the water.

“Basically, you’re adding water to the ground table, and it’s popping up on White Water Drive,” Peaco said.

He said there are steps the developer and homeowners association could take, but it is not clear which entity is responsible for mitigating the runoff.

Peaco said the supervisors have not yet commented on who is responsible for fixing the problem.

“How involved (the supervisors) are going to get, I don’t know,” Peaco said. “It’s up to the board.”

Township engineer Ron Olsen and Betters did not return calls regarding the runoff on White Water Drive.

The White Water Drive residents hope someone does something and soon.

Chris Staab’s back and side yards on White Water Drive on Wednesday were soaked, and a small storm drain in his yard was overwhelmed and under about an inch of water.

Muddy water squished overtop of Staab’s bare feet as he walked through the yard, and he pointed to a stream of steadily running water that came under his deck steps and around patio stones before sinking into the grass and heading to his neighbor’s back yard below.

Staab said mosquitoes are in the neighborhood, and ticks are a problem from deer who enjoy the wet grass.

He said officials from the state Department of Environmental Protection who visited the neighborhood told the residents that too much water will create a marsh, and the thick grass will not survive long term.

“And this is a wood deck sitting in water.” Staab said, pointing to the large structure. “My neighbor’s deck is already rotted.”

He said the rain that has occurred in the past several weeks makes the situation much worse.

“When it rains, you can actually see water shooting up with force through holes in the back yard,” Staab said.

He said while his sump pump has run full-time since the pavement was added last year to the new neighborhood, he knows of other residents of White Water Drive who have it much worse than him. He said those neighbors have black mold and lawns that are unusable because they are swamped.

He is frustrated that the township is not forcing the developer of the new neighborhood to create a runoff system that would correct the situation for neighbors downhill.

“We told the township last year, and they didn’t care,” Staab said.

Lisa Eperesi, who lives two houses from Staab, agreed that others on the street are worse off than her family.

Eperesi said her yard is almost always swampy, and that her son recently cut the grass in rubber boots because of the runoff.

She said the family would like to add a third lane onto their driveway to make room for another vehicle, but the ground is so saturated that the job would be impossible.

She said “a river” of water runs under her deck in the back, and that her husband is working to divert the ongoing stream from their deck to try and save it.

Eperesi said her neighbors’ basements flood during rain storms.

“We have no major damage like that,” she said.