Local

Clay County says government contractor cut sewage pipe, then buried it

Neighbors told Action News Jax they’ve been stuck with property damage and plumbing bills after a contractor reportedly tried to cover up a mistake.

According to the Clay County Utility Authority, a government contractor cut through a sewer pipe in an Orange Park neighborhood, then buried it.

“I’m just very unhappy about it,” said Linda Farmer, who now has damage to her front yard on Bee Street North.

She’s supposed to have family over for Thanksgiving next week.

“It’s just an eyesore. And the grass is all torn up, and this just looks terrible,” said Farmer.

Farmer’s neighbor, Fran Kennedy, first noticed there was a problem.

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“If my toilets had not started to overflow, we wouldn’t have known,” said Kennedy.

She hired a plumber, who told her the problem was with the county sewage pipe.

The Clay County Utility Authority came out and found a contractor hired by the county had cut the sewer pipe underground so they could install a new pipe below it to alleviate groundwater.

The county said the contractor, Capps Land Management, did not repair that damaged sewer pipe and then buried it.

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“If you made a mistake, tell somebody. Don’t cover it up,” said Kennedy.

Nearly 3,000 gallons of sewage flowed into a nearby pond after leaking into a pipe under the street.

Capps Land Management told Action News Jax it didn’t know anything about the issue.

The county could send the contractor a bill for repairs if it’s found to be at fault.