Sewage Seeps Into North Philly Home

Wet basements are nothing new. But the moisture seeping through a wall from a row home next door, isn't coming from a sink.

The residents of a North Philadelphia home say sewage is seeping into their home from the neighboring property.

Margaret and Juan Rivera say for months now, they've been living above what amounts to an open-air bathroom.

"It's coming into my property and you can smell the odor- and I have children in the house. It's just washing my foundation away. That's what it's doing, it's washing my foundation away," says Margaret Rivera.

That next door property is owned by Berwyn-based Nova Bank, which inherited it and several dozen other problem properties in foreclosure last year.

The bank tells us they've already hired a plumbing contractor to dig into the problem. Once it's been repaired, they promise to clean and disinfect the Rivera's basement.

Not a moment too soon.

Margaret has to jump over puddles of sewerage to get to her clothes washer and dryer-- both of which are propped up off the floor to keep them from being ruined.

As their sump pump works overtime to rid their basement of the filthy water, Margaret pleads for a quick resolution...

"I just want it to stop, because of my children. It's....bad," says Margaret Rivera. "I'm desperate for it to be over and done with."

Nova Bank's plumbing contractor says he got his permits Tuesday afternoon and should be able to begin work on this leak within the next few days.