Built on stench: Stablewood residents say homes on top of sewer reek of contamination More than 50 homeowners want answers. They say their southwest neighborhood stinks to high heaven because their homes are on top of an old sewer plant. ... Residents say Stablewood Farms is anything but stable. First they complained about unsteady foundations. Now they say they are falling ill. ... âThe house fills up with sewer gas. It gets into the clothes, linens,
bedding. Iâm breathing that in, where am I to go? This is my home,â he
says. "And I feel itâs contaminated.â
Built on stench: Stablewood residents say homes on top of sewer reek of contamination
by Joe Conger / KENS 5Bio |
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kens5.com
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:18 PM
More than 50 homeowners want answers. They say their southwest neighborhood stinks to high heaven because their homes are on top of an old sewer plant.
Now, they tell city officials their health is in jeopardy. On Thursday the residents met with city staff and developers about their issues.
Residents say Stablewood Farms is anything but stable. First they complained about unsteady foundations. Now they say they are falling ill.
âIt gets inflamed, almost like my arm is on fire,â said resident Charles Sanchez.
His rash comes with the rain; and so does the smell that Sanchez says he canât escape in Stablewood Farms.
âThe house fills up with sewer gas. It gets into the clothes, linens, bedding. Iâm breathing that in, where am I to go? This is my home,â he says. "And I feel itâs contaminated.â
Sanchez's neighbor says the stench emanates from the soilâfull of what Esmeralda Perez believes are the remnants of a sewer plant. The kids in Stablewood play in the dirt⦠and Perez and other parents think itâs harming them.
âIt concerns me because Iâm stuck with all this medication. My kids have asthma. They have rashes. On top of that, they have eczema," says Perez. "And all the kids in the neighborhood seem to have similar problems.â
Stablewoodâs homeowners say they were never told about the 18 sewage lagoons that were there before their homes were built upon fill dirt.
The city says the sewer complex was shut down in 1992. They say itâs not their problem.
The stateâs environmental agency says the closure of the plant followed TCEQ guidelines. Itâs not their problem.
Home-builder, DR Horton, didnât show up. And the landâs developer told the crowd he bought the land believing everything was cleaned up.
âThey have not given us a straight answer," said Perez.
So what now? The civil rights group LULAC is getting involved.
Homeowners say after a decade of questions, they are left to suffer.
âMy children are getting sick. My neighbors are getting sick. And whatâs causing it?â Perez asks.