Raw sewerage spills into houses
Last week the Water and Sewerage Authority began an exercise to consult with the public about WASA services. But while most members of the public made complaints about their bills or leaks on water lines, there are several customers in the North Creek Area who have a far bigger problem on their hands: raw sewerage coming into their homes.
The flood at the corner of Dougal Street and North Creek was not caused by heavy rains over the weekend but as a result of a
backed up sewerage manhole. The overflow flooded a number of houses in the area, covering the floors and households items with smelly and dirty water.
Neima Novelo, Resident
“The entire house was totally in a mess. The water, the sewerage water with shit and everything was coming out from the toilet and the tub. It messed up everything inside my house. The marley, I had to pick up off the floor. My mattress, two of my mattresses got messed up. My clothes, I had just washed and pick up my clothes – it was a mess. It was like very high; everything mess, mess, mess. My radio got messed. My three fans, when we plugged it out it shocked.”
Neima Novelo says the first time the incident happened was on June tenth. That Thursday Novelo said she call Water and Sewerage Authority and informed them about the situation but Novelo says WASA did not do anything.
“I am tired and I am fed up. I called WASA four times last week. From nine thirty I have been calling them and they didn’t do anything about it. They came three thirty and when they came they stood outside and they ask what was the problem and I explained the problem to them. They said they would return back. When they came back, about quarter to five they came and I said all I want you to do is come inside and see how my house is and will it happen again because I need to put my things back in the house or move out. “No mam it won’t happen again just put your things back inside your house.” They didn’t even budge to come into the house and see what was happening. Fine, I put my things back inside the house.”
However the house flooded again this morning, once again destroying some of Novelo’s household items. When we called WASA a spokesperson told us that they have asked Novelo to give them an estimate of the items affected. According to WASA the problem was triggered by work being carried out at their pump stations in the area. When the stations were shut down, residents in the area continued using their bathroom facilities causing a back up in the lines. WASA says because the lines run under the manhole the metal covers began to leak and only the houses which are below street level got affected.
