Family’s two years of sewage in garden

A family with two young children hope an extensive clean of sewers in the last few days will stop what has become regular flooding of sewage.

Sadie Carnell has become so fed up of the increasing number of times contaminated water has flowed into her Lutton Gowts property that she contacted the Environment Agency.

The first flooding took place on December 23, 2024 and Sadie says she’s noted 20 such floods in all including ten since March 18 this year.

It’s led to her, partner Liam, children Edie (7) and Noah (9) and their two dogs not being able to enjoy their garden.

At one point, Sadie said Noah accidently fell into the water.

“It’s been awful,” she said. “Every time we’ve reported this they’ve said they’d come out but then nothing happens.

“Anglian Water has said the blockage is on our land in the past but we’ve had people out to prove it’s not.

“Most of the time we just go around in circles with them.

“I’ve practically had to have a meltdown to get them to come out and reported them to the Environment Agency.

“I’ve been literally pulling my hair out over this and I don’t want my children or dogs getting ill.”

Finally last week Sadie had some success and Anglian Water has spent several days ‘investigating’ and ‘clearing’ out the local sewer.

“Me having a meltdown and the Environment Agency telling them to is what’s finally helped,” Sadie. “Tuesday was the first time they’ve come back to clear anything up.

“My partner’s had to do it, including clearing the contaminated gravel.”

A spokesman for Anglian Water said: “We are committed to doing everything we can to help the customer.”

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