Navan resident's misery as drains back up with raw sewage

A resident of Reask Green in Navan has told how he has cannot use the toilets, sinks or washing machine in his home due to a back-up of sewage which is bubbling up through the drain in his back garden, for the third time in as many months.

Pat Farrelly says the smell is "horrendous" and the waste is coming back up the toilets and drain in the sink and he can't use the kitchen because of it.

The latest incident happened at the weekend and he can't understand how it can be let go on this long and is appealing to Meath County Council to not only clear it as a matter of urgency but also to get to the root of the sewerage problem so it doesn't happen again.

He says his home is one of five houses in Reask Green affected by the blockage and that will keep happening until they find out what is causing it to back up.

"Before Christmas I went out the back and there was a bad smell and when I lifted up the drain, it was full. I got on to the council and they said it was a private house so I had to do it," said Pat.

He explained that when the contractor came out, they said the blockage wasn't in his house and was further up but he went ahead and paid €300 for it to be done. However, it has happened again twice since then.

"It happened again after Christmas and I rang the council and they said it is your house, you have to pay for it, but I said I paid for it already and I'm not going to this time. An engineer did come out but it took four days and they said it was nothing to do with them but I said I have already paid once and I'm not paying every time it gets blocked.

"After three more days Irish Water finally came and cleaned it up but we were seven days not being able to flush toilets, use our washing machine, anything that used water.

"Now again we noticed it on Saturday and I rang it in. A neighbour rang it in on Friday. Its now Thursday and I can't flush a toilet, I can't wash clothes. I can't use the kitchen at the moment, it's coming back up the sink and I've no toilets.

"We are at our wit's end. We have two kids in the house, one special needs. I can't let them out to the garden, it's covered in waste. We need to get it fixed."

"I am now at the stage where I have a house, and can't use it. I can't flush a toilet. It is coming back up the toilet bowl. I cant put anything down the sink. The smell is horrendous."

Meath County Council has been contacted for comment.