‘We’ve been living with putrid sewage flooding into our homes for 20 years’

Homeowners in Fife who say they’ve had to deal with raw sewage flooding into their homes for more than 20 years are pleading for urgent help to stop the problem.

Residents in Leven say the smell is “putrid” and they want their nightmare to end.

Scottish Water says a multimillion-pound improvement project is being designed with talks set to begin early next year.

Elaine Mitchell has lived in this part of Leven for more than 20 years. But she says that every time it rains, a river of raw sewage surges down her driveway towards her home.

“It’s washed down toilet paper, we’ve got human excrement, it’s just horrible,” she told STV News.

Other residents are facing the same problem. One said they felt “contaminated” when walking over the murky water.

Another woman said that when she tries to go to sleep, she feels like she’s “living in the sewage drain”.

Wendy Chamberlain, the Liberal Democrat MP for North East Fife, said the situation is “unacceptable”.

“To be living in a property where you are regularly having to put bleach down in your garden while you look at waste products and sewage, is a pretty disgusting and unacceptable place to be,” she said.

Scottish Water told STV News that it recognises how distressing sewer flooding can be for people and the impact that it can have on their wellbeing and homes.

Scottish Water has offered flood prevention barriers for the homes and says major work in this area is a priority.

A spokesperson said: “We are very aware of how distressing sewer flooding is and recognise the significant impact it can have on homes, property and people’s wellbeing.

“We also appreciate the strength of feeling within the community and understand the frustration of residents in Leven who have experienced repeated sewer flooding incidents over many years.

“A multi-million pound improvement project designed to alleviate sewer flooding in the town is in the early stages of design. It is part of a priority group of flooding investment projects scheduled in our business plan for 2027-2033. We will expect to have a project timescale which we will talk through with local customers in the early part of 2027.

“We can understand that residents and stakeholders have found it frustrating that timescales have elongated as planning and investment decisions have been worked through and would like to provide assurance that Scottish Water remains committed to delivering this significant investment for the benefit of the community of Leven.”