In parts of Knox County, raw sewage is not just a bad smell in the street. Homeowners say it is coming straight into their basements, forcing families to mop up foul water, disinfect anything it touches and haul soaked belongings to the curb. Neighbors say this has become a grim routine, not a one-time fluke, and they are pressing county officials for a clearer plan and a quicker fix.
One resident, Jonathan Durbin, told reporters he has been mopping sewage-contaminated water off his basement floor while trying to keep it from seeping toward his children's bedrooms. Those accounts, along with video of the messy cleanups, were shared in local coverage, according to WBNS.
Officials Blame Aging Infrastructure
Knox County's Water/Wastewater department lists Jeff Pickrell as superintendent and provides customer guidance on topics such as backflow prevention, system operations and billing. The department's website also posts contact information so residents can report backups and request help, according to Knox County Water/Wastewater.
Money Is On The Table, Fixes Still In The Slow Lane
County leaders have identified American Rescue Plan and other funding for water and sewer work, and they have marked pump-station rehabilitation and backup-generator installations as priorities to cut down on outages that can lead to backups, according to KnoxPages.
The board has also increased wastewater appropriations for 2026 and opened bids for Phase 1 construction work, steps local officials say are intended to tackle the recurring problems with the system, according to KnoxPages.
Residents living with the backups say those moves are important but not nearly fast enough, and they want clearer timelines along with help covering cleanup and repair costs. Their frustrations were highlighted in recent local reporting, according to WBNS, while the county's water and wastewater site lists office hours and a phone number for people who need immediate assistance, per Knox County Water/Wastewater.
For now, homeowners are documenting every incident, snapping photos and saving receipts for damaged items while the county reviews bids and schedules work. Anyone facing an urgent problem can call the water and wastewater office or bring their concerns directly to commissioners' meetings as crews prepare for upgrades.
