Summerville, Georgia, residents are confused and worried about drinking water shortage

Staff photo by Troy Stolt / Regina Laughlin holds up her granddaughter Topanga, 4, in her home on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020 in Summerville, Georgia. On January 31st, Summerville residents were advised not to consume their tap water after cancer causing chemicals were discovered during a quality inspection done by the Environmental Protection District of Georgia. Regina, who is employed by the Mohawk Industries mill, expressed concerns of the logistics of picking up fresh water for her family, as she often works during pick up hours. As the summer approaches, she's concerned they won't be able to get enough clean water to fill her family's needs.

By Patrick Filbin February 14, 2020 5 min read

SUMMERVILLE, Ga. – The front yard still hadn’t dried out Thursday from the flooding a few days earlier.

At the end of their long gravel driveway, Regina Laughlin parked her car and opened the trunk. Her husband Carey Laughlin walked out the front door when he saw her pull up.

“We’ll go through about two-to-three gallons a day, just between us,” he said.

The two of them – with the help of Carey’s daughter Kristina – carried in a case of bottled water and a few jugs of clean drinking water they had just picked up from City Hall in Summerville 2 miles down the road.

It’s become routine now. Every other day, they pull up to the side of City Hall, give a city employee their address, pick up a case of water for each house and fill up a few containers from a 5,500-gallon tanker before heading back home.