Longstanding Sewage Issues Plague Ladson Mobile Home Community
Residents of a mobile home park in Ladson, South Carolina, express their frustration and concern as the community continues to experience sewage leaks. The park, Sweetgrass Estates, located just off Highway 78, has had recurring problems with sewage spillage onto its streets for several years.
Residents’ Concerns Over Health and Hygiene
The issue, according to residents, is not limited to rainy weather – sewage, they say, leaks from underground even when the skies are clear. Jenna VanOpdorp, a resident who has been living on the property for three years, reports that this sewage situation has persisted throughout her stay and places the blame squarely on the owners.
“This has been going on since 2018. Families have to drive through it, and children have to walk through this. It’s toxic and just a terrible thing to live with,” VanOpdorp said. In her neighborhood, many children reportedly traverse the sewage-laden streets to reach their bus stop or return home from school.
“There are at least fifty kids that get off the bus and walk this way, most of their homes being past that sewer line. They have to walk through it, and most don’t know what it is. Many parents aren’t aware that’s what it is. It’s gross and still hasn’t been fixed,” VanOpdorp lamented.
Residents Refusing to Drink Water from Property
VanOpdorp is one among many residents who have chosen not to drink the water from the property. She conveyed her frustration that while management emphasizes yard cleanliness, living amidst the overpowering smell of human waste is a challenge.
“It hadn’t rained since Wednesday and it was bubbling up all weekend, and quite a bit, in two separate spots,” she shared. Though her home isn’t directly in front of the sewer leak, odors can permeate her dwelling, a situation that she described as distressful and hoped would be resolved soon.
Responsibility of the Property Owner
Your cooperation is a public health concern, and health concerns must be addressed,”. Jared Jones, North Charleston Sewer District Manager, pointed out that because Sweetgrass Estates is private property, the responsibility for addressing any sewage issue lies with the property owner. Jones added that although his district plans on reaching out to provide assistance, they are unable to offer upgrades to the private system.
As of this update, Sweetgrass Estates’ owners have not commented on the sewage issue plaguing their property.
The plight of the residents adds to an increasing number of American communities dealing with the challenges of outdated, inadequate, or non-existent sewage systems. Continued neglect, coupled with climate change and growing populations, puts millions at risk of public health crises resulting from untreated sewage.
