Neighbour cuts sewer pipe leaving family in the lurch

THE DOMINION POST

SMELLY PROBLEM: Homeowner Roger Bloxham, who created a makeshift longdrop after his pipe was cut and capped. The family now has a portable indoor toilet.

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An Otaki family have been forced to use friends' toilets and showers for almost a month after a neighbour cut their sewer pipe, and sewage spewed on to their property.

Roger Bloxham said he was staggered to find his neighbour had cut and capped the pipe about a month ago. The pipe ran through the neighbour's property.

Three weeks after noticing a nasty smell and their toilets not flushing properly, the Bloxhams discovered what had happened. "The stink while we were eating dinner was dreadful. It has been a nightmare."

Alan Manning asked Mr Bloxham 18 months ago to remove the sewer line, saying it was illegal. Mr Bloxham sought Kapiti Coast District Council advice and found the works were protected as private drains constructed with the consent of the property's former owner.

He informed Mr Manning and did not hear anything more until a year later when he received a letter from Mr Manning saying a contractor had cracked the pipe and Mr Bloxham could either pay to have it moved and pay an annual rental fee, or install a sewerage system on his land.

Mr Bloxham replied that he was happy for the pipe to be moved, but at Mr Manning's expense. Soon afterwards he noticed the putrid smell on his property.

"I have had no sewerage system for five weeks. We must have had about 3000 litres of raw sewage running over our property where our grandchildren play," he said.

He asked the council for help but was told that it had regulatory powers, but no enforcement powers. Council spokesman Ken Smith said that because the drain was a private one, the dispute was a civil matter.

Family and friends had been extremely supportive, Mr Bloxham said, letting them use their toilets and showers.

Deputy mayor Ann Chapman sympathised with the Bloxhams. "It is absolutely disgraceful," she said. "For whatever reason, this family should not have been left without sanitary conditions."

Mr Manning said he had tried to resolve the issue with Mr Bloxham for 18 months. Mr Manning's father-in-law, Wayne Owen, said the sewer line had no resource consent. "In the end we capped the pipe on legal advice."

Mr Bloxham intends to install a sewer pipe down his driveway, with the consent of another neighbour.