Water crisis: Brett Crealy washes his car with the help of his son Zac at Kurnell in Sydney's south. Photo: Mick Tsikas
The gumtrees in the backyard of Brett Crealy's home became makeshift toilets for his family this week after Kurnell's sewerage system succumbed to heavy rain.
The two toilets in their single-storey home threw up waste water from Sunday to Tuesday, forcing Mr Crealy, his partner and two boys, Jett and Zac, to use trees and bushes.
"The sinks and dishwashers are fine, but the smell from the toilet water was disgusting," he said.
A woman walks her dog past a set of portable toilets at Kurnell in Sydney's south. Photo: Mick Tsikas
Mr Crealy is one of thousands of residents in Kurnell who has had sewerage problems after the downpour over Sydney on June 29 and 30 crashed the vacuum waste water system serving Kurnell, Sylvania Waters, Bonnet Bay and Bundeena.
Kurnell remains the worst affected; the sewerage system has been largely fixed in the other suburbs.
Sydney Water confirmed 900 properties in the suburb had experienced sewerage problems this week.
On Saturday, residents from 400 homes still could not use their toilets without risking overflow.
On Thursday, Sydney Water installed 40 portaloos around Kurnell. By Saturday afternoon only eight remained: four on Prince Charles Parade and four on Captain Cook Drive.
Julie Hughes, owner of a waterfront home on Prince Charles Parade, refused to use the portaloos standing 30 metres away.
"I've been using buckets, and I know that's what others are doing. I would never use those portaloos," she said.
Ms Hughes, a resident of Kurnell for 24 years, said she had never experienced such horrific flooding in the area.
"The dishwater started smelling as well. I hope it ends soon. The guys from in the trucks pumping the water have been a great help."
Ms Hughes has not seen one person use the portaloos. Sydney Water said the portaloos would be progressively removed this weekend.
Sydney Water expects to restore the waste water service for all residents by next week, with crews "on the ground day and night to have this fixed as soon as possible", a spokesman said.
"Affected customers will be eligible for a rebate which will be automatically applied to their bill."
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