Multiple homes in Chadwell Heath have been affected by “horrible” noise and a “stench” after sewage water flooding.
Thames Water received reports of damage to its sewers by a third party in Chadwell Heath on Wednesday, May 31.
Investigations identified the damage caused and Thames Water began the necessary repairs on Monday, June 19, which are ongoing.
READ MORE: HUGE rat spotted in window of former Debenhams
Khurram Shahzad, who lives in Plantagenet Gardens, a cul-de-sac next to Chadwell Heath station, said for the first three days his house and his neighbours’ house were surrounded on three sides by sewage water.
He said: “Two miles worth of water is coming back into my manhole and my property is getting damaged.
“I have water going underneath my foundations.”
He expressed concerns for the health of his child: “I’ve got a nine-year-old child in my house who is a Type 1 diabetic, who is classed as vulnerable, and who is asthmatic.
“A lot of smell [is] coming into my house now – [the leak] is right next to my property and the smell is starting to come underneath from the floor as well because the sewage water [is] underneath my house.”
READ MORE: Grass fire in Rainham sparks barbecue warning
Nicole Adams, whose mother lives in Plantagenet Gardens, added: “In this heat, it’s an absolute nightmare, because you can’t open your windows, my mum can’t sit in her garden…
“It’s awful… the noise is just constant and it’s a tiny cul-de-sac so one of these lorries blocks up the whole road… it’s horrible.”
She said that where the sewage was leaking into an alleyway, there were mosquitos and larvae: “It’s just the stench really – it’s not healthy.”
Khurram and Nicole claimed the damage was caused as Network Rail was doing construction work and has affected homes across Chadwell Heath.
Network Rail did not respond to a request for comment.
Nicole estimated at least 15 households were affected in the cul-de-sac and others were affected in Plantagenet Place and Back Lane.
A Thames Water spokesperson said: “Work is expected to last up to seven weeks and may cause some road delays in the area, for which we are sorry.
“We have tankers in the area to ensure residents can continue to flush their loos and protect them from flooding and are continuing to review options to reduce smells.
“We'd like to apologise to customers whose gardens flooded. Our teams have thoroughly cleaned affected areas and any further damage to properties will be investigated accordingly.”
READ MORE: Campaigners slam 'woeful' response to calls for 'discriminatory' barriers to go
Nicole and Khurram both also said they had been told by Thames Water that they could put in requests for compensation after the works had been completed – but that they did not know when this would happen.
Nicole added: “Residents are really being affected…
“They just want to know that they’re going to get some sort of compensation or a definite end point because basically their summer's ruined…
“Children play in that street a lot because it is a cul-de-sac and they ride their scooters around… they won’t be able to do that [now] - no way.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here