Watford woman challenges Thames Water over raw sewage 'explosion'

Rebecca Yusaf of Lundin Walk, Watford, said she experienced “absolute hell” since Thames Water came to her house this week to address a foul smell coming from her drain.

Rebecca, 53, who has lived in Lundin Walk for 15 years, first detected the smell in late April. She said her neighbours also noticed the stench.

At the time Rebecca reported the matter to Thames Water who she said opened a man hole cover in the street removing a rotten piece of wood.

The smell of faeces lingered until she could smell it throughout her house emanating from the toilets.

Rebecca

On June 18 two men from Thames Water came to her property when a neighbour also reported raw sewage coming from a drain in her garden.

They told Rebecca there was a blockage and finished working “quickly” telling her they “didn’t need to come back”.

Rebecca went into the garden to check everything and discovered raw sewage on her patio and all over the toilet of her outdoor bar.

She said: “I opened the toilet door and there was raw sewage all over. There had been an explosion and I have no idea how it happened.

“There’s hazardous waste outside, they hadn’t done their duty, there are health and safety issues - and they’ve broken my toilet.

“They’ve tried to flush it and the pressure had nowhere to go. It’s a risk to me and my family.”

Rebecca contacted Three Rivers District Council on Monday who told her they had “no jurisdiction” but that they would contact Thames Water.

Rebecca called Thames Water and an hour later a man arrived but said the smell was making him “feel sick” and he needed to go home.

Two other men arrived after she put in another call. They removed sanitary items, nappies, a dead fish and a football from the drain, and soil around the contaminated area.

Rebecca said she was “really unhappy and dissatisfied” with the service and that she would file for compensation.

She said one man told her she had “no chance” of winning - while she was was standing in human excrement in her garden.

Rebecca also said she has an infected bite by a “horrible fly infestation” that has since moved in.

A spokesperson from Thames Water said: “It’s a complicated job and we’re working hard to get everything back to normal as quickly as possible.

“This is a high priority for us and we’re sending a team out today to fully investigate what caused the blockage and how it can be fixed to prevent any future issues. We treat each individual claim for compensation on a case-by-case basis and would encourage her to contact us directly.”

Rebecca added: “Mentally, it has taken up most of my week, telling them what I expect, it has been draining.”