Red Clay Swell and Pipe Shear
Greensboro's soil is rich in Piedmont red clay, which acts like a sponge. It swells up during wet spring deluges and shrinks to dry concrete during hot July stretches. This constant shifting puts extreme physical stress on underground water and sewer lines, especially old clay or cast-iron pipes in older neighborhoods like College Hill. Watch for sudden wet spots in your yard or sluggish drains, which indicate a sheared pipe or a root intrusion seeking water.
