RESIDENTS of Grafton Street, Sutherland, are demanding Sydney Water take immediate action after a burst pipe spewed untreated sewage across their front yards five times in the past seven weeks.
The sewer pipe bursts regularly every weekend, spreading faeces and toilet paper down the street, Grafton Street resident Rebecca Grant said.
"The smell and disgusting mess of untreated sewage is awful in our front yards," said Mrs Grant who has two children aged four and two.
"We don't let the kids come out to play in the yard now, and if they go outside I make them wear gumboots.
"It started with a leaking manhole on my neighbour's property on August 10 and flooded her driveway with raw sewage. It would have been shin deep," Mrs Grant said.
"Two weeks later it happened again. We could have forgiven it if this was all, but it has now been five times, flooding four properties.
"When it starts, it bubbles up in our bathroom.
"On each occasion the leak has continued for two or three hours, and one time for five hours, allowing huge volumes of untreated sewage to flood across our yards and finding its way into nearby Savilles Creek.
"Sydney Water have been out on each occasion to unblock the sewage main but no preventative work has been undertaken."
Verlie Stevenson, whose property is on the corner of Grafton and Merton streets, said the raw sewage exploded through a manhole in her yard on August 10, knocking over three wheelie bins.
The problem happened again on August 24, September 14, September 20 and September 28.
"We have lived here since 1957, and in that time there have been many villas and new high-rise built further up the road in Merton Street," Mrs Stevenson said.
Heather and Howard Wright, who have lived in Grafton Street for 30 years, are worried about the health of their grandchildren who often visit.
Mr Wright said that sewage has exploded through the manhole at least 12 times over the years.
"It is an ongoing problem. Sydney Water has spent a lot of time and money trying to fix the problem and cleaning up the mess, including disinfecting the ground.
"But the real problem is extra pressure on the pipes due to the numerous units being built further up the road. The infrastructure was built for houses. Where does the extra sewage go? Down here to fertilise our beautiful street."
A Sydney Water spokesman said that it last sent out a crew to Grafton Street on September 20.
"They cleared debris out of the line and did a manual clean-up," he said.
This week a Sydney Water crew visited residents and inspected the situation in Grafton Street.
"Sydney Water will conduct a CCTV inspection of the wastewater pipe and conduct a capacity check to ensure that the pipe can handle upstream volume created," the spokesman said.
What do you think is causing the sewer line to repeatedly burst in Sutherland?
