Septic Troubles Spill Over

Investigation Mobile County Health Department A West Mobile couple is swimming in sewage. For two years they say they've fought to get an overflowing septic tank fixed.

by Jessica Taloney

Published: Wed, April 30, 2008 - 3:38 pm CST

A West Mobile couple is fed up with having a backyard swimming in sewage.
We first told you about the smelly situation in a News Five Investigation last month.
Ken Kronebusch called News Five for help after he says he fought for two years to force his neighbor to fix their overflowing septic tank. Sewage from the tank runs down his neighbor's hill and under his fence. Kronebusch has even built a second fence to keep his dogs out of the mess.
Keith Smith, the Mobile County Health Department's Director of Inspections, told News Five in March the problem would be fixed within a week. One month later, the sewage is still overflowing.
"It's really fowl. It's producing little nats now that come out sometimes in huge flocks," said Kronebusch, describing the pool of sewage in his backyard.
Since our story aired, Smith says the property owner, who lives in Kentucky and rents out the home, has made several failed attempts to fix the tank. Smith says they now realize the entire system must be replaced.
"The engineer is going to submit his plans no later than the end of business tomorrow," said Smith. "What I would suspect is the first full week of May, by the end of that week, we'll have the new system in and functioning."
We spoke to the property owner on the telephone. He says he's hired a new engineer to get the job done.

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