Baytown sewage overflows due to heavy rains

BAYTOWN, Texas (KTRK) -- Baytown residents were dealing with a smelly problem in their streets Thursday as heavy rains backed up some sewer systems leaving sewage bubbling up into yards.

The city said it is dealing with more than 500,000 gallons causing backups in two dozen manholes.

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The areas affected are near Cedar Bayou, Black Duck Bay and Burnett Bay.

Lloyd Adams has lived here for nine years. He said the sewage problem has been an ongoing issue for the past five years.

"Anytime we have a rain over two inches, the sewers completely back up. They back up into the street," Adams said.

Residents are warned to avoid contact with water emerging from manholes and sewers. They're told to bathe immediately if they come in contact with sewage. The TCEQ has been notified, the city said.

Anthony Seales, with the City of Baytown's utility crews, said they're working to make the streets clean.

"We're going to disinfect the area. Clean up, pick up any papers, anything along that line," Seales said. "Please be patient. The city is out here working 24 hours a day."

Neighbors told ABC13 this is an ongoing frustration and it was particularly bad due to faster than average rainfall this week.

Adams said, while residents appreciate the work of the crews, they want a more permanent solution.

"We'd like to see the sewer system fixed so it doesn't overflow every time we have a heavy rain," he said.

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