A family say they have been forced to live upstairs for 18 months because their home is being repeatedly flooded by foul-smelling sewage water. Each time, dad Gavin Hicks must carry his wife and young daughter outside through murky water containing faeces and soiled toilet tissue.
It’s happened so often, the family have packed up all their furniture and now eat, live and sleep in two upstairs bedrooms. After each flood, Gavin douses the property in bleach and lives apart from his wife and daughter, sometimes for up to a fortnight.
“It’s a horrible situation to be in,” said the forklift driver from Penrhyndeudraeth, near Porthmadog. “The house looks like a bombsite. We’ve never replaced the ruined carpets as we know they will be another flood. We’ve removed the sofa and packed up everything downstairs into boxes so we can quickly move them upstairs the next time it floods.”
Gavin and wife Meinir, a hair stylist, moved into the property in 2016 and they now have a four-year-old daughter, Gwenno. The former Hendre Hall cottage lies opposite Eryr National Park Authority’s HQ. Investigations by Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water recently identified surface water and land drainage issues unconnected to its public sewage system.
Gavin and Meinir said the property was free of problems until July 2023 when the first flood occurred. The couple thought the issue had been tackled when run-off water from an adjacent field was diverted. But in January 2024, Gavin woke up to find the house mysteriously flooded again.
After cleaning up, he was determined to find the cause and the next opportunity came the following month. “I was in bed and could hear sounds downstairs,” he said. “It was around 2am-3am. I went to investigate and heard gurgling sounds in the toilet. When I went outside, I found water spouting like a fountain from a drain cover leading to the property’s waste pipe.” Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now
The family has since endured three more “dirty” floods. Each time the pattern is the same. “Whenever it rains I struggle to sleep,” said Gavin. “Sometimes I’m awake all night, listening for sounds of flooding. The foul water covers the garden, then comes into the house under the doors and up through the skirting boards. I carry Meinir and Gwenno out of the house to safety to prevent them being contaminated.”
Gavin has acquired an industrial pump to remove water from the property
While water is pumped out and the house cleaned, they go off to Meinir’s mother home 30 minutes away in Blaenau Ffestiniog. As Gavin works 12-hour shifts, it a struggle to see his family while they’re away, especially as much of his free time is spent repairing the house.
“I bought a pump to remove the water and I have a sprayer like people use for weedkiller to cover the interior with bleach,” he said. “Because of the fumes, I spray the bleach before I go to work so that I can leave all the windows open.
“Eventually the foul smell goes away. I used to drive a sewage wagon, so I know the dangers of contamination and I work hard to get rid of it, even though I know it will happen all over again the next time there’s heavy rain.”
The family say they complained to Dŵr Cymru Welsh Water on three occasions. After the last flood on December 7, two specialists inspected the house and carried out CCTV surveys. Gavin said the company offered to install a non-return flap on the property’s waste pipe, and fit an alarm warning Dŵr Cymru of imminent flooding. In addition, the family was offered a dehumidifier, he added.
Standing water and sewage detritus in the property in 2023. Carpets were subsequently removed and never replaced for fear of another flood
Internal walls have been left riddled with damp
Dŵr Cymru has since advised the couple to contact their insurance company. A spokesperson said: “After the latest flooding incident on December 7, 2024, a prompt compensation payment was made to the customer on December 9 under our Guaranteed Standards of Service.
“On the same day (December 9), a thorough investigation of our network near the property was carried out, including CCTV surveys. It became apparent there are surface water and land drainage issues at the property.
“Private land drainage at the property is also directed into the private sewer, which has exacerbated the problem. Our investigations have shown the issue is not with our public sewer, which is operating as it should.
“A non-return valve has been discussed with the customer, who has been advised it would not resolve their issue due to the levels of water entering the system at the property. We have advised the customer to speak with their home insurance providers.” Get all the latest Gwynedd news by signing up to our newsletter.
The couple say £450 appeared in their bank account last month. As the property will require renovation and perhaps even a structural survey, Gavin believes the money is inadequate. “It won’t even touch the sides,” he said. “Floors, walls and tiling will all need redoing. In places, the damp is 1.5 metres up the walls.
“There’s been a lot of rain this winter and it’s far from over. Unless this is sorted quickly, we’ll have more floods. We can’t go on living like this.”
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