Auckland families became afraid to use the toilet in their homes after the sewage flooded their homes for the first time in three years.
Tim and Debbie Weisehan spent 18 hours in the backyard draining 1 inch deep from Sunday night to Monday before Watercare sent the unit to clean up the waste.
The first flood occurred in 2019, a month after the couple moved to the rental property. Tim said the landlord called Watercare, telling him that he had had problems with sewage flooding in the past.
In each of the previous three cases between 2019 and mid-2020, Tim said Watercare sent the unit almost immediately and the waste was cleared within two hours.
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However, Tim said Sunday’s trials felt repeatedly discouraging for his family, especially because of the odor that remained after the waste was cleaned up.
David White / Staff
This is the fourth time Tim and Debbie Weisehan have been hit by a sewage flood.
“The first thing I thought was,’Oh, never again.’ I could definitely hear the water spurting out and smell what happened before I got to the door.” He said.
The family was waiting Sunday night for Watercare to send the unit for cleaning. Debbie said she was afraid that her smell would make her gag and use her toilet.
“I couldn’t get hungry outside. I hate everyone’s junk being thrown into your backyard,” she said.
Waste escaped through a drain in the concrete section of the couple’s backyard.
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For 18 hours on Sunday, Wiesehan’s backyard was 1 inch deep sewage.
Tim was told by Watercare to deal with the leak if it occurred three times in three months, but Debbie said it was a “massive rhubarb.”
“When everyone comes, they’re good-and I don’t want to do their job, but for me I was so scared to go to the bathroom to add to it,” she said.
“I don’t want this to happen again. Our barbecue is there, my kid’s trampoline is there, I think it’s all over … is it gone?”
A watercare spokesman said the problem was reported midnight on Sunday and when the crew arrived they were asked to return in the morning to get the job done.
Watercare also confirmed that the flood was caused by the accumulation of fat in the pipe network.
David White / Staff
The leak escaped through a drainage pipe for the concrete part of the backyard.
“This is why we advise our customers not to flush cooking oils into the kitchen sink,” said a spokeswoman.
“These solidify when they cool, and when combined with wet wipes, etc., can cause blockages in the wastewater network.”
Watercare said it spends millions of dollars each year cleaning up wastewater overflows.
It says people should scrape their cooked fats into jars. While in the bathroom, Watercare asks people to wash away only the “three Ps” (pee, poop, toilet paper).