Leaking septic tank bedevils neighbourhood

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JOHOR BARU: Disgruntled residents at Taman Rinting here staged a peaceful protest recently after having had their neighbourhood enveloped in foul odours for the last one and a half months due to a leaking septic tank.

To add to the stench, residents are also greeted with the unsightly view of sanitary pads and greenish solid waste flowing out of a leaking septic tank located opposite their homes.

Housewife Poh Seok Hoon, 37, said she had to keep her windows and doors closed constantly just to reduce the overwhelming odour from entering her house.

“We are even forced to sit through meals accompanied by the stench and at times at the cost of losing our appetites,” she said.

Unbearable smell: Residents at Taman Rinting pointing at the leaking septic tank that gives out pungent smells for the last one and a half months.

She added that she was also shocked to see sanitary pads flowing out of the tank, which was located at Jalan Ketapang 15, near a water treatment plant.

“I am also worried about the health of the children staying in the area as the conditions are unhygienic, especially for the young,” she said, adding that her two-year-old son had also fallen ill several times in the last month.

Businessman Rosli Mawasi, 54, said residents, especially those staying opposite the leaking septic tank, are extremely disturbed by the stench.

“We have lodged a few complaints with the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB) to look into the matter but no action has been taken,” he said, adding that the foul smell intensifies when it rains.

Factory worker P. Alex, 28, who has been staying in the area for about four years, said the septic tank had leaked a few times before.

“This time around, the smell is more intense and I pity the housewives and children who have to suffer the stench all day,” he said.

When contacted, MBJB public relations officer Mohammad Firdaus Abdul Hamid said the council’s engineering department would look into the matter as soon as possible.

“The water treatment plant located just next to the leaking septic tank is currently under maintenance and hopefully by mid-November we will be able to replace the tank,” he said.

Meanwhile, Permas public complaints centre supervisor Syed Othman Syed Abdullah, who organised the press conference, said they would give the local council two weeks to take action before sending a letter to the Public Complaints Bureau about the matter.