Raw sewage flooding on Newark street leaves residents frustrated, concerned for health
Neighbors on Triton Terrace say green, foul-smelling wastewater has been backing up outside their homes for more than a year, forcing some to wear masks and consider moving.
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Residents on one dead-end street in Newark say they are dealing with a disturbing and ongoing problem — raw sewage backing up and pooling right outside their homes.
Neighbors along Triton Terrace say the issue has persisted for more than a year and a half, bringing with it a strong, unbearable odor and growing health concerns.
“It ’s real terrible right now. I’m thinking about selling my home and moving,” said resident Zulekha Lampkin. “It’s only been three years that I’m living here, and this is what I’m facing.”
Residents describe green, foul-smelling water collecting along the curb — something they say has made it nearly impossible to enjoy their own properties.
“You can’t even park right here because of the water and the sewer,” said resident Etrevee Adeneken. “I have a lot of health problems… a lot of the times I come out with a mask on.”
Neighbors say the smell is overwhelming and constant.
“It’s smelling like 15 years of urine… it smells like feces,” one resident said. “You can’t even sit in your yard or have a conversation outside.”
According to News 12 New Jersey’s Amanda Eustice, the problem appears to be coming from a single home on the block. A tenant there, who did not want to appear on camera, said that every time the toilet is flushed, sewage backs up and flows into the street.
For residents like Lisa Marte, the situation has been heartbreaking.
“It saddens me because I thought I was finally going to have a home… living the dream,” Marte said. “But you can’t do that. You can’t even be outside.”
Neighbors say they have repeatedly contacted the city about the issue. However, city officials told News 12 they were unaware of the problem until we contacted them.
Newark’s water and sewer department responded to the scene and flushed hydrants in an effort to clean the street. Officials determined the issue is not related to city sewer lines, but instead stems from a private property.
The case has now been referred to code enforcement.
Residents also contacted the State Department of Health, which told them the property owner has 30 days to fix the issue or face further action.
“Please come out and fix this problem. We cannot cope with it anymore,” one resident said. “It’s too disgraceful to see how people are living.”
News 12 reached out to the State Department of Health for additional comment but has not yet received a response.
