A lady who owns residence in Bartlesville is outraged because uncooked sewage is pouring on to her land and affecting her whole neighborhood.

The Oklahoma Section of Environmental Excellent identified the city has been spilling sewage due to the fact at minimum 2017 in many locations.

Kelly Zimmerman claimed raw sewage has been jogging through her 80-acre property for extra than a 12 months and she’s desperate for factors to transform.

“This is a relatives-owned residence for 55 years,” stated Zimmerman.

Zimmerman lives in Washington D.C. but is in Bartlesville often to verify on her 80-acre oil lease and farm. She reported a lot more than a yr ago, she was advised about some flooding and a horrible odor on the property.

“My contractor finds this easement was overgrown, and drinking water and a smell have been coming from this route,” she claimed.

Zimmerman said she learned a manhole leaking uncooked sewage all more than her property and by way of the community.

“When it rains, it collects diapers, needles, female merchandise,” she stated. “We pay our contractors to decide on that up. These are biohazards.”

Zimmerman stated it truly is because the city’s sewage infrastructure is out-of-date. The town council a short while ago voted to enhance it, but it will get many years. 

A DEQ consent order was issued very last year, which lists more than 100 “Unpermitted Discharges” from the city’s h2o method in the course of the city over a two-year time period.

The buy mentioned all those people spills are a feasible environmental hazard.

Zimmerman stated she and her daughter were being both diagnosed with lymphoma immediately after a long time on the home and she thinks it is relevant. She is now submitting a lawsuit from the town and asking individuals to be a part of with them.

“Our intention is to get it end and get this infrastructure updated,” claimed Zimmerman.

Zimmerman just lately opened a nonprofit on her residence to enable kids learn about power and agriculture. She hopes to see everything cleaned up so folks can come get pleasure from the land.

The city reported they can not remark thanks to the pending lawsuit, but the DEQ stated the town is now compliant in that consent purchase.