A pensioner from Renfrewshire says she feels trapped in her own home as raw sewage regularly floods her garden.
Sarah Kelly, 79, told the Daily Record that the smell from the overflowing drains means she can't open the windows of her house in Linwood.
This is made all the more worse as she has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – a lung condition that can benefit from fresh air.
The mess – which emerges from the drain beneath Mrs Kelly's kitchen window – has had to be cleared several times by Scottish Water, and officials have since leafleted her neighbours to warn against putting wipes down the drain.
It now says, however, that Renfrewshire Council will be responsible for future clean-ups and repairs.
Mrs Kelly said: "The smell is awful. It’s baby wipes, toilet paper and human waste.
“It comes up through the drain and flows down the path.
“I can’t even open the windows of my house because the smell is so bad.
“I have COPD, I need to get air through the house but I can’t do that because of the smell.”
"[Scottish Water] came out a few times to clear it away", she added, "But now they say they won’t come again.
“I’m at my wit's end with it really. I don’t keep well; I was in hospital over Christmas and was kept in to January.
“I have carers coming in. I just want it sorted. At the minute I can’t even put my washing out. I feel scared to leave the house with it all.
“It’s disgusting.”
Labour councillor Jim Sheridan says Scottish Water and Renfrewshire Council need to sort out the problem once and for all.
“I’m extremely disappointed that this issue remains unresolved", he said.
“This is the third occasion I have reported this overspill, highlighting the health concerns of my elderly constituent and her neighbours.
“Priority must be given to repairing the issue in the long term.
“This environmental problem, and ownership and responsibility has to be established between Renfrewshire Council and Scottish Water.”
A Scottish Water spokesperson said: “We are aware of the issue at this address and have attended the property on several occasions to assist and offer advice.
“This is a private matter.”
A Renfrewshire Council spokesperson said: “Our Building Services team has removed several blockages from this drain in recent months, with the last repair being carried out on May 5.
“Our team will now survey the drain to identify any issues.
“All residents should take care with what they flush down their toilets to reduce the risk of drains becoming blocked.”
