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Sewage back-up forces sisters to leave West Des Moines apartment

Sewage back-up forces sisters to leave West Des Moines apartment
THIS IS THE RESULT OF SEWAGE BACKING UP INTO THE APARTMENT OF BROOKLYN. ANDERSON. AND A READ FROM THEIR KITCHEN SINK A MESS. AS BAD AS THIS MAY LOOK, THERE IS AN INTANGIBLE. YOU CAN’T GET FROM THE VIDEO. THERE WAS LIKE AN AWFUL SMELL COMING AND SOME BUBBLES AND WE DIDN’T REALLY KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THAT POINT. THEY DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IT WAS FRIDAY NIGHT. THEY TELL US FRANTIC CALLS TO MAINTENANCE AND THE AFTER HOURS NUMBER SAW NO ACTION FOR AT LEAST A HALF HOUR. I WAS LIKE, PANICKING. I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO. WE RECEIVED A STATEMENT FROM HUBBELL REALTY COMPANY. THE OWNER OF HAMELIN APARTMENTS. IT READS IN PART, WE EXPERIENCED THREE SEWER LINE BACKUPS BETWEEN FRIDAY EVENING AND SUNDAY MORNING. EACH TIME. OUR MAINTENANCE TEAMS WORKED WITH A LOCAL SEWER LINE CLEANING COMPANY TO HELP FLUSH THOSE LINES. THEY THOUGHT MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. BUT SUNDAY THEY RAN INTO AN ISSUE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE. THE CLOCK HAD MOVED 65 FEET DOWN A PIPE, A CLOG, WE’RE TOLD, WAS REMOVED MONDAY, A SITUATION THAT LEFT A FEW RESIDENTS A LITTLE PLUGGED UP. IT’S JUST FRUSTRATING BECAUSE IT’S LIKE NOW IT’S OUT OF OUR CONTROL. THE READ SAY THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO SLEEP AT HOME. FRUSTRATION AMPLIFIED BECAUSE THEY HAVE TWO DOGS. OWNERSHIP RECOGNIZES THAT FRUSTRATION AND TELLS US THEY’RE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO HELP MAKE THINGS RIGHT. THE COMPANY STATEMENT CONTINUES WITH ALTHOUGH IT’S AN UNFORTUNATE SITUATION AND WE ARE VERY THANKFUL, THE RESIDENTS REPORTED IT WHEN THEY DID SO IT DIDN’T IMPACT THE COMMUNITY FURTHER. HOWEVER, REALTY TELLS US THERE WERE FOUR UNITS AFFECTED BY THE CLOGGED PIPE. THEY ALSO SAY THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET BACK IN THEIR APARTMENTS AS OF TODAY. NOW, WE DID SPEAK WIT
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Sewage back-up forces sisters to leave West Des Moines apartment
Brooklyn and Jacinda Reed noticed something foul in their apartment Friday night."There was an awful rank smell coming in with some bubbles. And we really didn't know what was happening at that point," said Brooklyn Reed, adding that sewage backed up into her apartment. It was coming from their kitchen sink.The smell and backup forced the Reed sisters to find a temporary home.We spoke with Hubbell Realty Company, owners of the Hamlet Apartments, who sent us a statement that reads in part: "We experienced three sewer line backups between Friday evening and Sunday morning."The work wasn't done. They also found a clog some 65 feet down a pipe. It was removed Monday.The situation left some residents a little plugged up."It's just frustrating because it's like now it is out of our control," said Jacinda Reed.The Reed sisters say being away from their apartment has not been easy.That unease is intensified by having two dogs.They said they think their calls to the after-hours number and maintenance were not met with the urgency they hoped for.The complex owners seem to recognize there is frustration and appears to be doing what they can to make things right."Although it's an unfortunate situation, we are very thankful the residents reported it when they did," Hubbell Realty said.There were four units affected by the clogged pipe issue.Complex owners said all residents affected could return to their apartment homes.

Brooklyn and Jacinda Reed noticed something foul in their apartment Friday night.

"There was an awful rank smell coming in with some bubbles. And we really didn't know what was happening at that point," said Brooklyn Reed, adding that sewage backed up into her apartment.

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It was coming from their kitchen sink.

The smell and backup forced the Reed sisters to find a temporary home.

We spoke with Hubbell Realty Company, owners of the Hamlet Apartments, who sent us a statement that reads in part: "We experienced three sewer line backups between Friday evening and Sunday morning."

The work wasn't done. They also found a clog some 65 feet down a pipe. It was removed Monday.

The situation left some residents a little plugged up.

"It's just frustrating because it's like now it is out of our control," said Jacinda Reed.

The Reed sisters say being away from their apartment has not been easy.

That unease is intensified by having two dogs.

They said they think their calls to the after-hours number and maintenance were not met with the urgency they hoped for.

The complex owners seem to recognize there is frustration and appears to be doing what they can to make things right.

"Although it's an unfortunate situation, we are very thankful the residents reported it when they did," Hubbell Realty said.

There were four units affected by the clogged pipe issue.

Complex owners said all residents affected could return to their apartment homes.