Blundering electricians puncture sewage pipeline while installing new broadband pole outside grandfather-of-five’s house – leaving pensioner’s home plagued by plumbing problems for three months
- Steve Tragner, 72, says he was plagued by plumbing problems for three months
- The grandfather living in Kent said a new broadband pole caused the issues
- He said his driveway was overflowing with sewage and he couldn’t wash up
Blundering electricians punctured a sewage pipeline when they were installing a new broadband pole outside a grandfather’s house, leaving him with plumbing problems for three months.
Steve Tragner, who has five grandchildren, said tanker trucks had to collect the sewage that overflowed into his driveway twice a day after the pole was erected.
The 72-year-old said he and the three children staying with him couldn’t use the toilet at night and couldn’t do the dishes because sewage would pour out.
He said he’s been struggling with these problems for three months since Openreach replaced a telegraph pole outside his house in Whitstable, Kent.
Steve Tragner, who has five grandchildren, said he’s been struggling with these problems for three months since Openreach replaced a telegraph pole outside his house
Crews of subcontractors removing the pole and fitting the pipeline with a connector sleeve to stop the sewage leaking into Mr Tragner’s house
Pictured: The pools of sewage flowing onto Mr Tragner’s driveway after the pole was erected
Mr Tragner said Openreach replaced a telegraph pole outside his house on August 1.
A couple of weeks later at about 9pm, his front driveway was full of water emerging from a manhole.
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Tanker trucks had to collect sewage from the property up to twice a day.
The ordeal lasted three months because Openreach allegedly dithered on fixing it, and Mr Tragner is now launching a claims battle as a result.
The retired air-conditioning engineer said: ‘It was bloody annoying.
‘At night time we couldn’t even use the toilets or take a shower because I was afraid it would overflow into the garden again.
‘And throughout the house, we had a disgusting odour of sewage because it was not going away.
‘You wouldn’t believe it, especially with children. We couldn’t use the toilets or anything at night, we couldn’t use washing machine, we couldn’t wash up.
‘With three children living here at the moment, it really has not been easy to live with.
Mr Tragner said tanker trucks had to collect the sewage that overflowed into his driveway twice a day after the pole was erected because it was so bad
The ordeal lasted three months because Openreach allegedly dithered on fixing it, and Mr Tragner is now launching a claims battle as a result of the issues he faced
Mr Tragner said Openreach replaced a telegraph pole outside his house on August 1. A couple of weeks later at about 9pm, his front driveway was full of water emerging from a manhole
‘When they came to pump it out each day, I would be rushing around having a shower, flushing the toilets, putting on the washing machines.
‘We called Southern Water, and subcontractors came down the next day with cameras and confirmed that the problem was being caused by a rupture in the sewage pipeline.
‘We’d been trying to get in contact with people to rectify this, but we just went around in circles for months.
‘Then this past Tuesday, crews of subcontractors showed up unannounced, removed the pole and fitted the pipeline with a connector sleeve.
‘It’s finished now and that’s a relief, but what are the consequences of the sewage potentially seeping under the house, under the garden? Only time will tell.’
Openreach have apologised for Mr Tragner’s ‘unpleasant’ experience and said they have replaced the ‘problematic’ pole.
They said: ‘We’re sorry that Steve and his family have had this unpleasant experience.
‘Our partners have now replaced the problematic pole and we’re working with Southern Water to finalise repairs to the pipe as quickly and as safely as possible.’
MailOnline has contacted Southern Water for comment.
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