Family resorts to using onions to fight off stench of leaking sewage in Canberra flat toilet
The foul odour from a leaky ceiling in a toilet has led one family to use onions in an attempt to fight the stench.
Ms Fan, a 51-year-old HDB resident of Block 121D Canberra Street, told Shin Min Daily News that the ceilings of her toilets have been leaking non-stop ever since the renovation of the upstairs unit in September 2023.
"The ceiling above the toilet was leaking, dripping yellow sewage, leading me to suspect it was seeping down from the toilet upstairs," she said.
The sewage water had begun leaking from the master bedroom toilet ceiling, with the stench filling the bathroom.
Her family has placed onions around the bathroom in an attempt to freshen up the smell.
Ms Fan informed her neighbour about the issue, who explained that the flat was undergoing a toilet replacement as part of renovations.
After that, the leaks stopped for a while but persisted some days later.
Once more, she approached her neighbour, however, she said she refused to cooperate.
Ms Fan reports that mould has also developed in the bedroom, which she believes caused her Primary 5 son to fall sick.
Ms Fan has contacted the authorities on multiple occasions. With every inspection, the leaks would stop, only to restart a few days later.
Ms Liu, 28, the upstairs neighbour, told reporters that authorities concluded the leak did not originate from her unit upon inspecting her floor after Chinese New Year.
"Since the problem wasn't caused by us, if they have any objections, they should report it directly to the authorities," she said.
According to the Housing Board's (HDB) website, ceiling leaks are typically caused by deteriorated waterproofing, and both the upper and lower floor units share the responsibility for resolving the issue.
The HDB recommends that both units discuss a solution and engage a contractor.
