00:00What began as a minor sewer leak has now spread across multiple areas of the La Salle tourist
00:05community with residents reporting sewage emerging at different points. They say temporary repairs
00:12have failed to fix the root of the problem. It started leaking there the same thing that
00:17is happening lower down that would happen there um philip minister alexander they came camera
00:24crew and everything and they changed the cover on that on that um hole and they seal it they seal
00:35it
00:35off a tighter cover. Residents say each attempt to seal the leaks has only provided short-term relief
00:42with the issue reappearing elsewhere. About a month or a few weeks later it found its way leaking from
00:49the next exits sewer exit which was at the corner on the on top of the hill they send a
00:56crew and they
00:57came and they cement down that cover now it is exiting on the sewer exit on the hill itself closer
01:05to
01:06the buildings lower. They believe a deeper problem within the sewer system is causing a build-up
01:11forcing water waste to surface at multiple exit points. It is just finding its way every exit point
01:18it finding its way to push because there's a backup in the sewer system. So they have not fixed the
01:24situation they're just covering it up and it keep moving to different exit points. Beyond the inconvenience
01:30residents say the situation is becoming a serious health concern particularly for vulnerable groups.
01:36The constant sewage leakage is deeply concerning to us all. The order is overwhelming it creates an
01:44unsanitary environment right before we enter our homes. On our way to our home we have to drive through
01:52this daily. This unhealthy stench unhealthy rundown. Prolonged exposure to sewage and strong fumes and bacteria
02:01is definitely a public health concern especially for the children in the area and the elderly. Anyone also with
02:08respiratory issues. So even if symptoms aren't immediate no one should have to live under these
02:14conditions. Despite repeated complaints residents say they are still waiting for a permanent fix. However,
02:22minister in the ministry of housing Philip Alexander says the issue may have been triggered by a missing manhole cover.
02:28The problem is the sewage manhole cover that came out was located right next abutting the garbage where the
02:41residents put their garbage and people come from all around the area outside of Las Arturas and had their garbage
02:50there.
03:09He says the blockage has since been cleared and the manhole secured but admits further intervention may be required to
03:17prevent a reoccurrence.
03:19If that is the case then we are going to have to take a more intrusive step and engage we
03:30may have to work with what's on this to remove the clean out from where it is
03:35and create some other mechanism so that they don't steal the covers and cause this problem.
03:44The Water and Sewage Authority says it has been briefed by the Housing Development Corporation on the situation.
03:50Charlotte Kisto, TV6 News.
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