THE Deputy Mayor of Lucea, Neville Clare, said an epidemic is imminent if the outstanding problem of sewage sweeping from the Bigwell Lane sewage system into the town of Lucea is not corrected.

“If we are not careful, we are going to have an epidemic out there that breaks out because the raw sewage is running into the main street going onto Millers Drive, and that is unacceptable,” said Neville Clare who is also the councillor of the Lucea division.

The small sewage system, which falls under the housing ministry, currently serves the over 40 houses that make up the Bigwell Lane housing scheme.

However, the old malfunctioning soakaway system has made life difficult for a number of residents over the years.

“Whenever you flush, everything comes up back into the bathroom and therefore I have to go ahead and dry it up. So, really and truly I need some assistance,” said a Bigwell Lane resident, who gave her name only as Colleen.

“It happen two years ago and Ian Hayles [Member of Parliament for Western Hanover] came and assisted me, and I am really grateful for it,” she said.

She was referring to one of the worst incidents in 2013, which was highlighted by the media. At that time effluent could be seen running like a river from some yards via a manhole.

The Jamaica Observer West visited the area a little over a week ago after the Hanover Parish Council undertook some work in the area. This time around, water was not seen running from homes. However, discoloured water was seen springing up from an area close to the sewage tanks.

Mayor of Lucea, Wynter McIntosh said the work done by the Council was as a result of what he saw during a walk through the town, days before the media visited the area.

“On Tuesday, I had walked the town of Lucea, just to get a firsthand knowledge of the state of some of the things out there and to respond to some of the calls that I am getting. Surprisingly, when I went to Bigwell Lane, what I met upon was rather alarming. There were overflows in the road that could have been human waste. Very alarming, very surprising,” said McIntosh.

“I immediately called the health department who have since given me a report and they are saying that it is the responsibility of the housing corporation who is to deal with that matter,” he said.

Meanwhile, Acting Chief Public Health Inspector attached to the Hanover Health Department, Patricia Hall-Patterson, told a recent general meeting of the Hanover Parish Council that several notices were sent by the Health Department to the Ministry of Housing to have the problem corrected. She said it is her understanding that efforts are being made to have the system relocated.

“What should be happening now is that they should be doing maintenance work, frequent drawing of the sewage until the plant is relocated,” said Hall-Patterson.