Residents say town is playing dirty, with sewage

East Hampton, Conn. (WTNH) - Residents in East Hampton say their town is playing dirty, and they've been dealing with the sewage mess for about six years.

Homeowners collected evidence including soil samples and even bills to show News 8. They say the town made them pay for a sewage problem that they don't feel responsible for.

When a pump failed one family was put in a disgusting situation, physically and financially.

"We had sewage flow into our basement," Rob English said. "It's hard for us because we had finished the basement and that was our child's play area."

English showed News 8 the cost for clean-up and getting a crew to fix the pump.

"Five thousand 92 dollars and 55 cents," English said." Right out of our savings account."

The English family, the Sawyers and three others in the Barton Hill Road area have had their grinder pump fail over the last six years.

It's a sewage system that was inspected by the town and one they say was the only option in order to build in the area. However, the group has been trying to tell official after official that there's clearly a problem.

"It is unusual you would have one area with such a problem," said John Weichsel, Interim Town Manager.

The homeowners say that's the best response they've received in years. They say usually they are told "it's not our problem," and they still are when it comes to previous bills.

"It's like a shingle on a house," Weichsel said, "When it fails, you fix it."

The big question now is whether the homeowners knew they'd be responsible for fixing the two horse power grinder pump when they purchased their homes.

Ed Sawyers claims he did his homework in 2005 and there was nothing in his file.

"Magically, in 2006 after the meeting with the water department, the caveat appeared in our property record so you tell me what's going on," Sawyers said.

At the very least the town says they may get an engineer to come check out the situation. However, after six years the homeowners say that's not enough, and they want resolution.