San Antonio apartment complex addresses sewage issue after resident's call to KENS

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A San Antonio woman, Elizabeth Hansen, had been dealing with a sewage issue at her apartment complex, Villas De Sendero, for several weeks. The sewage was flowing out of a pipe and through the parking lot, but management and local code enforcement had not resolved the problem. After Hansen called KENS 5 News, the station contacted the property managers, who then sent plumbers and cleaning crews to address the issue the very next day. The sewage was cleaned up, but Hansen remains concerned the underlying plumbing problems could lead to the issue recurring.

Why it matters

This story highlights the importance of local news outlets in holding property managers and government agencies accountable for addressing issues that impact residents' quality of life. The sewage leak posed health and safety concerns, especially for children playing in the area, and the lack of timely action by the complex's management and local authorities raised questions about their responsiveness to community concerns.

The details

According to the report, Elizabeth Hansen and her neighbors had been dealing with the sewage issue for several weeks. The sewage was flowing out of a pipe located in front of an apartment and through the parking lot. Hansen said the complex's management and San Antonio's code enforcement were aware of the problem, but it remained unresolved. After Hansen called KENS 5 News, the station contacted the property managers, who then sent plumbers and cleaning crews to address the issue the very next day. The sewage was cleaned up, but Hansen remains concerned the underlying plumbing problems could lead to the issue recurring.

• The sewage issue was reported to code enforcement on December 30 of last year.
• Code enforcement issued a 'notice of violation' for the sewage on January 7.
• KENS 5 News visited the property on January 15, and the sewage issue was still unresolved.
• KENS 5 contacted the property manager the next morning, and plumbers and cleaning crews were sent to the site that same day.
• KENS 5 returned to the property the following week, and the sewage had been cleaned up and the parking lot was dry.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The regional manager for Investors' Property Services stated they were getting bids from plumbing companies to permanently fix the pipes at the Villas De Sendero complex to address the underlying plumbing issues that led to the sewage leak.