Tenants at the Villas de Sendero apartments on San Antonio's West Side reported raw sewage flowing from a broken pipe across the parking lot for weeks, making spots unusable and creating a persistent stench despite repeated complaints to management. After a reporter visited, crews cleaned the area, and follow-up visits showed the parking lot had dried.
San Antonio Development Services received a complaint on December 30, 2025, and issued a notice of violation on January 7, while Investors' Property Services, which took over the property on December 24, 2025, said it was seeking bids to repair the pipes. The on-site office initially scheduled plumbers for January 16, and a regional manager declined to provide further contact information, according to KENS 5.
How the city handles sewage and safety complaints
For the City of San Antonio, raw sewage is treated as a life-safety problem, not just a nuisance, and there is a formal checklist for how complaints are handled. The city's Violation Notice Process states that property owners typically have 10 days to fix violations after they are notified, with code officers returning to re-inspect reported locations. If problems are not resolved, the case can result in citations or other enforcement measures. Tenants can flag health and safety concerns by calling 311 or using the city's online portal, which routes cases to Development Services for inspection.
Tenants want clearer timelines and oversight
Hansen told KENS 5, "I’m so grateful you came out," after the station visited, and cleanup crews arrived the following day. Management told the station it would pursue repairs and line up bids for the work, but several residents said they still want a firm schedule and clearer communication about how the fix will prevent repeat sewage spills. If the complex racks up repeat violations, San Antonio's proactive apartment inspections program could put the property under extra scrutiny, including more frequent inspections.
