An Edinburgh family have said they feel 'disgusted' and 'ashamed' to look out their window after four weeks of sewage and human faeces has been flowing through their garden.
Paolo Dimola his partner Alexandra were concerned for their family's safety after the potent waste which could cause serious health issues poured up through a drain into their back garden in Hutchison Medway.
After the issue began on Boxing Day, the 47-year-old is yet to find a proper solution to the issue, with both Scottish Water and Edinburgh Council coming out to examine the situation.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live the dad said: "Everything started on Boxing Day with the first leak and overflowing of water and sewage from a manhole at the back of the property. We called Scottish Water and they came on the 2nd of January."
After examining the problem and saying a choke somewhere in the garden was causing the river of revolting faeces and mushed up toilet paper to flow through his garden, Scottish Water suggested Paolo contacted the council over the matter.
The City of Edinburgh Council have since apologised after their contractors failed to resolve the problem after the initial visit, saying they expect much better.
A spokesperson said: "After our contractors initial visit we’re very disappointed that this issue has been left like this. As this is a mixed tenure block – with both private and council tenants - we look to help with any emergency response to an issue.
"Getting our emergency repairs service right for tenants is an absolute priority and we have to apologised for the service provided in this instance by our contractor.
"It falls short of the service standard we expect and that we aim to provide. A specialist contractor will be on site this afternoon to clean up the spillage."
At a loss, Paolo called in two different private firms who suggested that a problem with the septic tank may be causing the blockage, but it would have been expensive to resolve the issue privately.
Paolo continued: "In the meantime around 9th January, Lanes Group called by a neighbour down the road and they used a jet hose to get rid of most of their sewage and left saying that the main blockage was between 20, my flat, and 18.
"They said only the council would be able to resolve the issue so after I contacted them, an inspector came out the next again day and used a high pressure washer which seemed to have resolved the problem.
"Two days later, I noticed waste coming out and today, after several calls, the council couldn't find us in the system and the problem remains unsolved."
Paolo concluded that his garden looks like "a dangerous swamp, unhealthy and horrible to live with" saying that his family had become "stressed with each department passing the buck and the ping ponging between contractors and the council."
After Edinburgh Live contacted the City of Edinburgh Council regarding the issue a contractor has been sent out to fix the issue tonight.
