MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Possible sewage seeping up near apartments in Whitehaven has some residents pleading for repairs.
For the second time this year, residents called WREG to South Pointe Townhomes on East Shelby Drive, regarding issues with dirty water backing up.
“You actually see the bile,” one resident said.
She has lived at the complex since February. She said the disturbing view outside her door is nothing new.
“It’s been raw sewage, visible sewage, and tissue that you can actually see right outside our door step,” she said.
The woman asked WREG not to identify her, out of fear of getting in trouble with the complex.
She said sewage is seeping up near multiple apartments. In the water, you can see white flakes that appear to be bits of toilet paper.
“It’s just been horrible. I have small kids, and we let their window up to get some fresh air, and you smell all kind of just horrible smells outside the house,” she said.
WREG was at the complex in March when dirty water was backing into homes.
At that time, the property manager told WREG the main sewer drain was backed up.
Tuesday, a contractor for the the complex responded to the current issue.
The resident WREG spoke with said that before Tuesday’s response, requests for repairs led the complex to put down lime for the smell.
However, she said the problem stuck around, and the rain made it worse.
“I want to see that cleaned up and fixed properly, not something that’s going to get fixed and be fixed for one day, something that’s going to be fixed long-term,” she said.
The city’s Division of Public Works responded to the water issue in March, and it worked to remove a grease blockage. A city spokesperson said the city did not find any problems in the city’s sewer line.
Public Works is sending a worker by the complex Wednesday to check on the issue.
