A couple have stopped paying their water bill as they try to get a sewage leak fixed.
Paul and Maggie Phillips, who live on Norwich Road in Yaxham, near Dereham, are withholding payment of their Anglian Water bill in hopes of getting a sewage leak on their driveway repaired.
Mr Phillips said it was the first time he has held back payment.
“It has been 10 solid days of sewage being pumped out into the driveway, and because no one is doing anything about it, I am not prepared to pay them for discharging sewage onto my property.”
The 67-year-old said similar incidents have occurred in January this year, as well as in October and November 2023.
A spokeswoman for Anglian Water said: “We’re working hard to keep our sewer network flowing over the winter months. The problems we're seeing across Yaxham are being caused by rain and surface water getting into the sewer network, rather than a specific problem with the system.
“Our sewers are designed to take away the waste from homes and businesses, but the nature of what they are there to do means they are not sealed systems, and excess rainwater or groundwater can infiltrate into them during prolonged or extreme wet weather.
"It means that while our network is operating the best it can, there's much less room for the sewage, which can cause problems with flushing toilets, or using showers and washing machines, particularly if they are downstairs.
“We know it’s hugely frustrating, but these problems will get better once these water levels recede, creating more room in the sewers again.”
There were also sewage leaks on his road back in December 2020, when Anglian Water cleared the site with five tankers removing sewage and surface water from the affected areas.
Mr Phillips also said that people living in the three homes found behind his property can only walk out onto the street by walking past the drain cover on the driveway.
“As soon as you flush it you know where it is going, all on your driveway - so we are trying to limit the amount of flushes” he added.
There is also concern that the dirty water will find its way into the River Tud, which is around 800 metres from his home, and into the Wensum.
He has also written to Breckland Council, urging them not to build new houses in Yaxham until this issue is sorted. "I want someone to sit down and agree to a plan of action to sort this out once and for all.”
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