RESIDENTS FRUSTRATED AS SEWAGE LEAK ONGOING FOR TWO YEARS
RESIDENTS FRUSTRATED AS ISSUE CONTINUES FOR OVER TWO YEARS
RESIDENTS of Wicklow Heights are calling on the Local Authority to fix a faulty pipe which is causing raw sewage to spill out into the garden of a vacant property.
John Madill lives next door to the premises and has been dealing with the problem for over two years. Sewage regularly flows up from a manhole and spreads out across the back garden.
‘It’s a health and safety hazard now. The smell comes into my house and you basically have a kitchen full of methane gas. Everyone is stuck at home with the Covid-19 restrictions and I feel enough is enough. It isn’t just affecting me. Other residents are also being impacted,’ said John.
He and another neighbour have to frequently enter the back garden of the property in an effort to try and stop the flow of raw sewage.
‘Raw sewage leaks up from the manhole and you have a river of sewage flowing down the garden. Myself and another neighbour go next door every two or so weeks to rod the pipe to stop the sewage from flowing into other gardens, but now I have had enough.
‘I’m not trained to deal with raw sewage and don’t have the right equipment. We won’t rod it any longer. The decking in the garden of the house where the sewage is coming from is also rotting away so it’s dangerous. No one seems to want to address the problem.’
The property in question has been vacant for the past number of years and was privately owned. It is believed that it is now in the ownership of A.I.B.
John believes replacing a pipe should help alleviate the problem.
‘I know another neighbour whose toilet backs up when the situation gets really bad. There is a tennis ball encased in concrete inside the pipe, which is part of the problem.
‘People keep flushing baby wipes down the toilets as well because you can see them building up in the shores. I just can’t deal with the stench anymore.
‘It’s a complete health hazard. People are staying home now because of the Covid-19 restrictions, so the chances are even more baby wipes will be flushed down the toilet or drains.’
Cllr Gail Dunne has been liaising between Mr Madill and Wicklow County Council and he feels the Local Authority should act.
‘I know it is a private residence but it is now a health hazard to the people living in the area. For over two years this problem has been passed around to Billy, Jack and Tom.
‘Wicklow County Council is going to have to act because it is now a health issue. You can’t expect people to live next door to a property which has raw sewage flowing in the garden, especially at a time when everyone has to stay at home,’ said Cllr Dunne.