There is one certainty in life here in Houston, Texas: Whitmire’s “make Houston better” is an utter failure. Whether failing to pick up heavy trash or repairing broken water mains. Crime is up. The media tell us how bad John Whitmire is, with constant news of his failures.
Now sewage, nothing like the smell of your own shit with a bunch of others thrown in to stir your nasal passages.
Residents at the Tanglewest Condominium Community say months of unresolved sewer issues have left them worried about their health, their homes, and their property values.
The problem began in early November, but neighbors say warning signs appeared even earlier.
A strong sewage odor started spreading through the community, prompting complaints and eventually a response from the city. While crews initially addressed part of the issue, residents and property managers say the work was left unfinished, creating new problems and an ongoing eyesore.
A really bad smell”
Barbara Justin, who lives in the Tanglewest community, said residents first noticed something was wrong last summer.
“Everybody in the community started noticing this really bad smell—really bad,” Justin said. “Eventually we found out they needed to come out and drain the lines.”
City crews did come out and performed a repair, but according to property management, the work was done incorrectly.
Sewage backups and health concerns
Days after the initial repair, sewage backed up into residents’ homes.
“It was going into the residents’ homes,” the property management representative said. “They were afraid to use their dishwasher, that the water would come up. It was awful.”
After repeated attempts to get Public Works to return, property management encouraged residents to file 3-1-1 complaints. The city eventually came back and broke up the concrete clog, which reduced the odor, but residents say that’s where the work stopped.
Large hoses, broken concrete, mud, and construction equipment remain scattered throughout the area. Residents say pieces of concrete were never removed from the sewer line, and damaged property, such as patio gates, has not been repaired. A lingering gas sewer smell is still present.
Still waiting for answers
According to the property management representative, the last conversation with the city indicated crews would return to finish the job on Dec. 23. That never happened.
That sewage will find itself in one of Houston’s storm sewers, where it will flow into the bayous.