Neighbors raised alarms after reporting what appeared to be raw sewage being pumped into a ditch near homes that rely on well water.
According to a report from the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Office, deputies were called to the Randall Street area of South Point after a resident reported a nearby property was allegedly draining septic waste behind a home.
The caller told deputies this was not the first time he had witnessed it and warned that many people in the neighborhood rely on private wells and septic systems. He expressed concern that sewage runoff could eventually contaminate the local water table and nearby drinking water sources.
When deputies arrived to investigate, they encountered a language barrier at the residence because the people living there primarily spoke Spanish. Deputies were eventually able to communicate by asking residents to contact someone who could translate over the phone.
Through the translator, deputies learned several people were living at the property, including another family staying in a garage apartment behind the home.
Deputies were given permission to inspect the backyard, where investigators reported finding what appeared to be a buried concrete septic structure connected to a pump and multiple hoses.
According to the report:
- one hose ran down into the septic tank
- another stretched across the backyard toward a ditch near railroad tracks
Although the pump was not actively running at the time deputies arrived, investigators noted signs suggesting it had been operating recently.
The property representative reportedly explained the septic system fills with rainwater during storms and they were trying to pump out excess water to prevent the system from overflowing.
Deputies attempted to explain that once water enters a septic tank, it is still considered sewage-contaminated wastewater and cannot simply be pumped into a ditch.
Photos were taken documenting the setup and deputies contacted the county solid waste office for guidance.
The case was also forwarded to the Lawrence County Health Department for additional review.
