For 17 years, at least two to three times a year, Henk Visser and his family endure a blocked sewerage system. The unpleasant smell makes living on his property less than desirable.
Henk said he has been dealing with this problem for far too long and said he wants to bring the municipality to the party.
The 60-year-old said reporting the matter to them has been a challenge. He is never able to speak to the person in charge and is sent from pillar to post.
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Henk said, “They put you through to a number but the phone keeps on ringing. If someone picks up, they take the details, but it takes two days to get feedback. In other instances, someone would pick up the phone, start laughing and speak to others while they keep me holding on. That is not the way to answer emergency calls.”
He said at the end of 2017, he started sending the municipality emails about the issues, but said to date nothing has come of it.
He said at first the property next door, from which a business was being run, was blamed for the blockages.
“They [the municipality] said they disposed of the fat in the drain, but after the business had moved, the blockage persisted,” Henk said.Asked about the way the problem has been affecting his family, Henk said it restricts their bathroom routine and water usage.
He said it is even worse because he cannot solve the problem himself.
“If I open the manhole and try to do something, they can sue me for interfering with their work and tampering with municipal property. If only the municipality would get its act together and the employees would answer the phones as they are supposed to.
“Put us through to the people who are able the resolve the issue. I know that a problem cannot always be attended to immediately, but if I report it in the morning, at least give me feedback by the evening,” Henk said.
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