South Ozone Park sewage backup caused by collapsed pipe

South Ozone Park residents experienced a massive sewage backup on Thanksgiving weekend that caused some families to move into hotels. Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office.

By Victoria Merlino

The raw sewage deluge that poured into the basements of South Ozone Park homes in November was caused by a collapsed pipe, according to a report from the Department of Environmental Protection shared with the Eagle.

“By conducting this engineering investigation, DEP has concluded that a significant length of the 1987 sewer collapsed on November 30, 2019, causing the calamitous back-up of sewage into dozens of residential homes,” the report reads.

The pipe collapse was first reported by The New York Times. 

Wastewater flooded dozens of basements in South Ozone Park over Thanksgiving weekend, leaving some residents with over four feet of sludge to clean up, and others scrambling to save possessions and keepsakes. The backup caused heat outages and a foul smell throughout the neighborhood. 

DEP officials initially blamed the backup on residents dumping cooking grease down the drain during the holiday, though officials quickly backpedaled on the idea as more information emerged.

At a City Council hearing on Dec. 11, Councilmembers voiced frustration with DEP Commissioner Vincent Sapienza for initially blaming residents for the backup.

“There’s this perception that people in Southeast Queens eat fried food all day,” Southeast Queens Councilmember Donovan Richards said. “Grease is used in all communities.”

Sapienza told councilmembers that the “vast majority” of sewer blockages are caused by cooking grease. “Until we actually get into the pipe and see what it is, we don’t know,” he said.

Sapienza assured councilmembers, however, that sewage backups of this scope were rare. 

The agency will build a new sewer around the pipe, according to the report. 

Residents that the City Council hearing described the backup as a “horror movie,” and told lawmakers their lives have been incredibly difficult since sewage flooded their basements.

“I live in a very good neighborhood. Hardworking people. We deserve better than this,” said resident Leron Harmon. Harmon had four and a half feet of sewage flood his basement, which is where he stored most of his clothes, his son’s toys and many other important possessions.