Raw sewage pouring out, Thames Water won't help, HELP!!!

warehouse

Update: Another Thames Water engineer turned up this afternoon. There's a manhole cover further down the garden which is blocked, and he said he didn't have the equipment to fix it so called for a much bigger unit. The problem I see is that if the pipes are blocked further down from the manhole, (which is at least 20 feet below my drain), then what is blocked to cause the sewage to come out from my drain? Doesn't common sense say that if the pipes beyond the flimsy manhole were blocked then sewage would leak from there well before it reached 100 yards and 20 feet higher up to my drain?

I am getting the distinct feeling that getting round so many customers in one day is MUCH more important than fixing the real issue which appears to be more than one blockage now.

The saga continues...

warehouse

anotherginger wrote: »

This is completely incorrect. Not all councils have a DRAINS & SEWERAGE department and not all have a 24 hour emergency call out. I would wager that most don't!

If Thames Water don't sort out the problem you can complain to your councils Environmental Health department (all councils have at least 1 environmental health officer!). They do not have any legal obligation to clear the sewer but do have the legal power to ensure Thames Water carry out their legal obligation to ensure that the line is free from blockages and in a good state of repair.

Thank You for that, I will call my local council tomorrow.

anotherginger

No problem, I will say though that if Thames Water are sorting out the problem (however slowly!) the council will probably give them time to get on with it, as it unlikely that they will want to serve notices on a utility company, and couldn't do it as Thames Water are meeting their obligation to clear the line.

I think Thames Water underestimated the fallout from the change of ownership of private sewers from the property owner to them.

abwsco

Nothing to add apart from it sounds like an absolute nightmare putting it politely and I hope it's sorted out for you tomorrow.

warehouse

Update: Still waiting for the bigger unit. Have been calling Thames Water for an ETA to no avail. Now on day 4 of sewage pouring into the garden.

Have had no choice but to take the day off work today, and that simply should not have to happen. Waiting for a call back from the local council environmental health department, and also emailed pictures to the local paper and local news magazine.

I spoke to dynorod who told me that ONLY Thames Water is allowed to touch the main pipes, so I can't even pay to get it fixed.

Wednesday is the Wifes busy day of the week with kids, and the garden is completely off limits.The situation is starting to seriously get me down now.

BertieUK

It is so hard to believe that this serious 'health hazard' has not been fixed for you after 3 full days have passed. I can only assume that you are not the only one in your area with this type of problem and Thames Water are so busy. It almost seems that there is a 'pass the buck' attitude going on.

Hope today you will say that all is well once again.

Regards

BobUK

abwsco

How about seeing if you can ring your MP as well.

warehouse

Rang the local council environmental health. Not interested unless there is a serious environmental issue. I mentioned the canal at the bottom of the garden and suddenly they took notice, and will call Thames Water now but otherwise they said it's not their responsibility since late 2011. Edit: They just called and said they have spoken to Thames Water who now miraculously say a large unit is on route.

Local newspaper has been over and a photographer is coming this morning if they think it will be a decent story. Again, ss I was writing this the photographer came over and I've just starred in about 20 shots!

I fully intend to block the van/lorry whatever it is in if I'm not completely happy with the outcome today. It's gone too far now.

warehouse

abwsco wrote: »

How about seeing if you can ring your MP as well.

Great idea, I'm on to that now.

warehouse

ic wrote: »

Do you have home emergency cover on your house insurance that might provide assistance?

Yes, we used our emergency cover to get someone out to clear the local pipes, so we now know 100% that it isn't our problem. Luckily the drain that is overflowing is in the garage, otherwise we wouldn't have been covered for any outside drain!