Green Slime Creek, San Francisco, CA
It looks like a tranquil picture, doesn't it?
The steps on the left lead up to the mid-level, and then steps located roughly up behind the left green chair lead up to the top level. You can see my rear neighbor's deck on the left up above. I know it's slightly overgrown, life happens. In this case shit happens..... I'm standing in my back door taking the photo.
What you can't see is the problem. The previous owners of the house above located at 15 Dorchester Way built that deck past their property line. The concrete foundation of that deck rests partially on top of a sewer manhole cover, blocking it. The sewer is now leaking and a green slime creek is flowing down the upper steps toward my house.
Yesterday that green slime creek was beginning to flow down the lower steps on the left, toward my back door. I shoveled an earthen damn behind the magnolia tree to block it. The green slime creek was forced to flow to the right - I don't know where it's going - some of it is coming over the wall behind the green chairs, but much of it isn't. Maybe it's flowing in to my neighbor's yard on the right.....
My neighbors in back were all helpful trying to figure out what was going on. Then they dug down and found the manhole cover and called someone from the San Francisco Public utilities Commission. He came and investigated. He told my partner that they can't do anything until the neighbor removes the concrete foundation wall from the manhole cover. The San Francisco PUC won't do anything. The Chinese neighbor say 'not my problem - look!'. Did San Francisco Building Dept. give them a permit for that deck?
Meanwhile the Green Slime Creek is flowing down my back yard. Granted, it's not a constant flow. It comes and goes as water is used, toilets are flushed - you get the idea. Hopefully we won't see any more rain for the season - that would be very interesting since we have combined sewers here. Rain water and shit water all mingle together.
San Francisco has open sewers flowing in backyards, and the San Francisco PUC won't do anything about it. Where do you think this will lead if no one agrees to take responsibility? My three Chows can't use their back yard unless under constant supervision so they don't cross 'over the earthen line'. We can't enjoy our backyard. And when the Green slime Creek is flowing, I feel sick from the smell.
John M Scott, Broker / Owner, Century 21 Scott Keys Properties, Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB), serving San Francisco and the surrounding San Francisco Bay Area
