Family Discovers Plumber Never Connected Sewer

After 27 years, waste backs up into downstairs shower.
Family Discovers Plumber Never Connected Sewer
Oregon family discovers plumber never hooked up sewer after finding waste backing up in downstairs shower. (Photos and video courtesy KVAL News, a member of the Sinclair Broadcast Group)
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An Oregon family is planning legal action against a former Eugene-based plumbing contractor who they say never connected their house to the city’s sewer system, according to KVAL News, in Eugene, Oregon, a member of the Sinclair Broadcast Group.

David Kent and Peggy Affolter were part of a massive sewer installation program in the River Road/Santa Clara area more than 25 years ago.

In 1989, the Affolters hired a contractor, paid their money to be hooked up, thought they were hooked up, and have been paying wastewater fees to the city since that time.

The disconnect came to light about a month ago when sewage began backing up in a downstairs shower.

“At that point we determined we were not connected to the city sewer as we had thought we had been for the last 27 years,” says Kent Affolter.

The Affolters say their half-filled septic tank just kept on working all these years.

They’re finally hooked up to the Eugene Metro Sewer System but figure they sunk $8,000 into installation fees and useless wastewater fees. The couple worked with Eugene Public Works to get about half the money refunded.

“We have proper checks and balances in place now to make sure that this doesn’t happen. But at the time then, we didn’t have that in place,” says Brian Richardson, Eugene Public Works spokesman.

Peggy Affolter wants to take legal action against Denis P. Rohaley, who has had 15 dispute resolution claims filed against him. His Oregon plumbing license was suspended in 1994.

See the video below:



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