Bluffton neighbors ask WSAV for help with smelly sewage leak

BLUFFTON, S.C. (WSAV)—Tropical Storm Debby left a lot of water behind in some areas of the Lowcountry, but that’s not the only thing that’s stuck around.

One viewer called WSAV News 3 to say the storm left behind a bigger smellier problem than just some deep puddles in their Bluffton neighborhood.

“Is there any way to describe that smell? Toilet. Toilet smell,” said Peggy Law.

Peggy Law is describing the smell from the sewage leak in the middle of her cul-de-sac at The Farm neighborhood off Buckwalter Parkway. Sewage can be seen bubbling up from the street, draining into the nearby storm drain.

“It’s been uncomfortable. I guess it’s a good way to say that the smell of it has been pretty offensive and we just want to get it taken care of as quickly as we can,” Law said.

It has been four days, and after multiple calls to the Beaufort-Jasper Water Authority, the Farm Property Owner’s Association and the Town of Bluffton, residents say no one has been able to help.

“We’ve been watching it and smelling it for four days,” explained Law. “Everybody in the cul-de-sac have made calls to the water department, and we’ve had some trucks come through, look at it and drive off. And so, we haven’t been able to get anywhere with getting it cleaned out.”

So, they called WSAV News 3 to help get some answers from their local officials.

While WSAV was there, we were able to flag down a Beaufort-Jasper Water Sewer Authority truck that was in the neighborhood. The technicians took a look at the issue and said that the entire pump station is overflowing.

They also said unable to get rid of a lot of these issues not just in this entire neighborhood but throughout the region and people will just have to wait until the water levels to go down.

They said that they do not have a target time or date for when that may happen.

This is an ongoing issue and WSAV will update with new information when it becomes available.