Mozart resident Brad Costain has been fighting desperately for help after he said raw sewage has been flowing down the street and into their property for months and nothing is being done to stop it.
He has not even lived in his home at 16 Ellen Avenue for two years yet, and said he has been dealing with this sewage problem the majority of the time.
However, Costain's main concern right now is the health and well-being of his two kids.
"This is mild compared to what it usually is, it stinks, the bugs it's created, you can't grill out on your porch. Your kids can't play out on their yard," he said. "Half my yard has sewage coming down, my tree is black clear up to the tree. It's disgusting. No one should have to live like this."
After noticing a strong smell, and a constant flow of water on his street, Costain said he called the health department to check it out. He said they assessed the problem on site, but that was all.
"They told me it's going to cost $1.3 million for city sewage and the EPA told me it's not his job nor will he do the health department's job," he said.
Costain's biggest concern though is that his children keep getting sick.
After doing research and consulting his doctor, Costain believes the raw sewage is the reason why. He said he recently found two lumps under his five year old daughter's arm.
"My whole family has had conjunctivitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, just all of the health issues that go along with raw sewage," he said.
Costain even contacted Marshall County City Council in hopes of getting the issue resolved.
County Administrator Betsy Frohnapfel told 7News the issue stems from private homes. She said the county has drawn up plans for city style sewage in the Mozart area, but the county was denied funding from the state. However, she said the county will reapply to get state money for this multi-million dollar project which could cost as much as six million dollars.
"If the health department can't help me and no one else will, I'm left to move and lose the money on my house," he said.
Another neighbor told 7News that she and her family have also been dealing with this problem for years and years.
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