Pensioner's health fears amid raw sewage nightmare


Despite repeated attempts and using a substantial sum of her own savings, the Craigavon woman has despaired over finding a solution to the overflow and stench.
SDLP Cllr Declan McAlnden called for immediate action as raw sewage floods her garden on a regular basis.
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Hide AdCllr McAlinden expressed ‘disgust and concern’ that the Ardowen woman has been unable to get a satisfactory solution to the raw sewage leaking from her drains and manholes at her front door.
Cllr McAlinden said: “The sewage, and smell was evident when I called at her home during the Christmas period.
“This was only the latest in a string of sewage incidents at her home. Mrs McConnell informed me that since September 2017, NI Water and a private waste company, have on a number of occasions put cameras down the drains and cleared debris, but, unfortunately, this has not resolved the problems.”
Mrs McConnell added: “I have spent a considerable amount of my savings on trying to resolve this problem.”
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Hide AdCllr McAlinden said “It’s absolutely disgusting. It is unacceptable to have raw sewage on a property and to put this elderly lady under such considerable stress and worry especially over Christmas and the New Year.
“She is afraid to take a shower or bath and use her toilet because she is afraid of the gully overflowing with raw sewage at her front door.”
Cllr McAlinden called for a thorough investigation.
A spokesperson for NI Water said it had responded to reports of out of sewer flooding at this property on a few occasions. “Staff cleared a significant blockage in the sewer which was caused by a build-up of rags and other inappropriate items. A CCTV survey was carried out and staff attended the site again last night (Monday 8th January) to check the sewer was running freely but discovered a further blockage on the private end of the pipe. NI Water will endeavour to resolve this further blockage as soon as possible. The advice is to only flush the 3 p’s – pee, poo and paper; everything else needs to go in the bin. That includes the wipes that say flushable.”