Constant sewage flooding and Thames Water not fixing mains

elliottja

Any advice here appreciated.

There is a broken sewage mains in front of our house. It keeps getting blockages and the only escape is the open drain at the side of our house. We live halfway down a hill and the sewage gushes out, flooding our garden, our neighbours garden downhill from us, and ultimately 2 other properties gardens nearby.

This first happened just over a month ago but they didn't fix the problem. Now it's got worse and we've had daily floods since last Thursday, but there is no end in sight.

Thames Water have started sending twice daily tankers to remove as much sewage as they can but it's not enough. Today they haven't sent anything and won't be here until midday and it's flooding out.

Sometimes it frees itself up and the flooding is temporary, but there's always the danger that it doesn't.

Has anyone got any tips on getting something like this resolved? I've complained and I've asked for my complaint to be escalated and was told "I wouldn't because it will take up to 10 days to be assigned another case handler". This is crazy!!!

elliottja

First time it flooded end of May...




What's happening now end of June into July (trying to have extension built)...

Hoenir

What's causing the blockage as that will determine the solution. TW will priortise emergency works. Resources are finite. 

elliottja

Hoenir said:

What's causing the blockage as that will determine the solution. TW will priortise emergency works. Resources are finite. 

It's a collapsed main. TW know what the issue is.

elliottja

My question is, are there any smart ways to improve my chances of escalation?

The only thing I can think of is to buy a pump, pump it to the end of my garden which meets a road so it starts affecting a public highway and then it's taken seriously.

My neighbours are getting the brunt of it currently as it floods the majority of their garden.

Grumpy_chap

Report to your Local Authority - Environmental Health or whatever the equivalent department is called now.

Are you able to block the gulley / manhole where this is spilling out?  Where will the spill then go to?  Can you at least cap that so only liquid rather than solids flow out?

Report to Thames Water daily and make a nuisance of yourself.

Report to your local Councillor and, on Friday, report to your MP (once you know you the MP is).

That is a wholly unacceptable situation.

elliottja

Thanks for your input.

* I've purchased and put flood defences in place to protect where our extension is being built but this causes the sewage to flood our neighbours garden, then the garden behind them, then the garden next to the people behind them. It all depends on if TW get here in time to stop it getting really bad. My neighbours are amazing and say as it's already destroyed their garden we may as well protect the building site.

* My (currently not sitting) MP visited me over the weekend and their case team contacted TW yesterday and if re-elected and unresolved will follow up after 4th July.

* I raised a complaint and escalated with TW.

* I submitted a GDPR Data Access Request.

In fairness to TW they spent a lot of time working outside yesterday evening, but they texted my neighbour to say they couldn't complete works and they will return at the end of this month.

Wish us luck.

SkylineExplorer

I know this thread is a few months old, but I came across it and couldn’t help wondering how things are going for you. It sounds like such a tough situation, especially with the impact on your neighbours'.

Along with everything you’ve done, it might be worth considering reaching out to a private drainage specialist if anyone faces a similar issue. These companies are experienced in handling complex sewage and flooding problems like yours and could provide practical interim solutions while Thames Water works on resolving it.

Best of luck, and fingers crossed it’s sorted soon