WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Donaldsonville residents frustrated with sewer company

Donaldsonville residents frustrated with sewer company

By Cheryl Mercedes - bio | email

DONALDSONVILLE, LA (WAFB) - A small community in Donaldsonville is dealing with a big problem. Homeowners in the St. Jude Subdivision say raw sewage keeps creeping up in their yards. Neighbors say when Density Utilities bought the old sewer system from Worldwide, they made a lot of promises. But, the only thing they've noticed is a hike on their bills.

Residents say a small ditch that runs behind St. Jude Subdivision alerted them to the problem. "By this afternoon, you're not going to see anything but black sewage," said Ascension Parish Councilman Kent Schexnaydre. If you look closely you can see it. Recent rains washed the thick black waste to the sides of the ditch. When it rains, residents say the sludge pours on to their back lawns and even kid's toys.

One homeowner told us he can't even get a lawn service to cut his grass anymore because they just can't stand the smell. Resident, Suzi Ball, says there's yet another annoyance. "The noise. There's this high-pitched sound that I assume is saying there's something wrong with the system," said Ball.

The sewer station is visible over the tree line behind the neighborhood. The sewer system, recently acquired by Density Utilities, is rooted in rust, sludge, and according to the company, twenty years of neglect. Now residents are paying the price. Density is billing them a dollar extra every month for nine months to help pay for improvements. But, so far, customers say they haven't seen any. "If we're going to pay more, at least make some improvements," said Ball.

Councilman Schexnaydre says he has tried to get the Department of Environmental Quality and even some state legisators involved. But so far, he says Density's only solution has been to put a band-aid on the problems when they get complaints. "Quite frankly, I don't feel they should have to pay at all for the services they're getting," said Schexnaydre.

Density will hold a neighbhorhood meeting in Donaldsonville the week of October 12.

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