A pensioner has been forced to travel a mile to wash and use the toilet because of a sewage leak at his home.
Colin Greenwood, 83, said he has also been left struggling to eat meals at home due to the stench of the leaking waste yards away from his dinner table.
Sewage is seeping from a drain cover just outside his house in Hillcrest Avenue in Dereham resulting in waste covering the path by his back door.
The leak, which started on January 29, has led to Mr Greenwood having to travel to his son’s home a mile away to use the toilet and wash.
His son, Glenn, called Anglian Water on the day to get the issue sorted, but although he was told it would be fixed by that evening it has not been done.
He has also contacted Breckland Council’s environmental department but has been left disappointed with the support offered.
“It would seem waterways and fish are more important than humans,” he said.
Mr Greenwood, who has lived at the house for more than 30 years, said that the issue was “getting him down”.
He added: "I'm getting out when I can, it was so nice this morning to go out for a cup of coffee and not smell raw sewage.
“The smell, especially first thing, really puts you off eating. It is like being back in the 1940s."
Neighbours have also reported sewage leaking into their back gardens and have reported it to Anglian Water.
ENGINEERS SENT OUT
Mr Greenwood’s son said that Anglian Water has sent out engineers who found there was a blockage where the sewage pipes connect with the main line in Shipman Road – a busy road Hillcrest Avenue connects to.
He added that the water company team said it was beyond their scope to fix and would need to send out a larger team.
Although the repair was due to happen on the evening of January 29 – the work still hasn’t been done four days later.
An Anglian Water spokesman said: "We’re really sorry that we haven’t cleared the blockage on Shipdham Road yet.
"Due to a high volume of work following the extreme weather we’ve had recently, our teams have been stretched and have had to prioritise other issues, but we appreciate the inconvenience and frustration this delay must have caused Mr Greenwood.
"Because the blockage is on a busy road, we need to clear this out of our usual hours to keep our team safe while they work and minimise disruption for road users.
“Our teams have been in contact with Mr Greenwood to let him know that we’ll be out this evening (February 2) to clear the blockage and to begin the work to clean up his garden.”
PUDDLES OF DIRTY WATER
Another person who lives on the road, who did not wish to give their name, said there is sewage in their back garden as well, and they have raised the complaint with Anglian Water.
The drain cover on the road is also creating puddles of dirty water on the road and path.
Hillcrest Avenue was described by both the unnamed neighbour and Mr Greenwood as being 'busy' with road and foot traffic, including school children heading to Toftwood Junior.
A Breckland Council spokesperson said “We were made aware of this incident yesterday and an officer is investigating.
"However, Anglian Water are the responsible water and sewerage authority and leading on addressing this issue.
"In the meantime, we will continue to offer support to the resident."
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