A Ballynahinch resident has hit out at work done on a residential street in the town which has caused waste water to flood out onto the street.
The problem in Carlisle Park has been ongoing for over a year, with the smell the same as sewage, according to the resident.
The did not wish to have their name published for concerns over their employment, but said they are "at their wit's end" over the issue.
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The resident said the problem had been left for too long, having moved to the town about two years ago.
An issue with their own drains blocking up before getting to the road was looked at by NI Water and they believe the attempted repair work had a knock-on effect.
Contractors were tasked by NI Water to carry out the work needed to fix the drainage issue from the house to the road.
"This took some time and there was work that went on to figure out what the problem was," they said.
"Eventually what these contractors did was they dug a hole in the road, they lifted up a manhole and that allowed them to see the drains that were under the road.
"They then re-tarred the road, the square piece that they took, unblocked the drain and we thought that was the end of the problem.
"From they did that work in April of last year, whenever it would rain or anything, this water has been coming out from underneath tar surface that they've put back on the road.
"Someone has said it's not actually sewage as in toilet sewage, but it is waste water that comes from sinks, washing machines etc, and it smells very similar to sewage, you couldn't differentiate it."
They said that it was a source of great frustration for those living in the area and was potentially a health hazard for those passing through unaware of what the issue was.
"We've been told that where they've dug down to where the pipes are, there's obviously some sort of blockage or leakage from that patch," they added.
"It also floods over then to a drain which is on the footpath and this white scum is coming out and there's no two ways about it, it smells like sewage.
"It's just so disheartening to see someone walking down there with a pram who doesn't realise what it is walking through that, children going to school walking through that, people in wheelchairs with their hands on the wheels going through that sewage."
The resident went on to say that they have asked NI Water to come out and look at it numerous times, but the problem has never been resolved.
"So from September last year, I have been ringing NI Water and they have been sending people out to have a look at it and it's usually just a company that comes down to look at it," they told Belfast Live.
"They wash it down and it's oozing out behind the water that they're washing down the street, they drive away and it's oozing down the street after them, it's pointless.
"They keep doing it each time and then they say they'll get somebody out to investigate each time we contact them.
"Summer is coming and last year the smell was appalling - it did die down a bit in the winter in terms of the smell but with warmer weather coming, it's going to get up again."
NI Water said it was aware of the issue and was working towards finding a solution for the problem.
"NI Water has been made aware of a possible issue in the wastewater foul sewer at Carlisle Park in Ballynahinch," a spokesperson said.
"NI Water and our contractors have been on site to investigate.
"NI Water plan to return to the site to continue the investigation and carry out any actions required to resolve this issue."
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