Raw sewage has been backing up through a Las Vegas family's apartment drains since May 7, according to a mother who says the mess is making her 11-year-old daughter sick and their home nearly unlivable. She reports headaches, coughing and a stench that never really goes away, and says that despite repeated calls, no one has delivered a lasting fix.
Jenya Reynolds told 8 News Now the backups started on May 7 and have kept coming back, sending raw sewage burbling into sinks and toilets and knocking parts of the unit out of commission. Reynolds said property staff offered to move the family into another unit temporarily but would not cover a hotel during repairs, and she said management suggested the problem might have been caused by items flushed down a toilet.
"We've been living in dangerous conditions," Reynolds told 8 News Now, adding that she made more than 50 emergency maintenance calls before finally feeling she had to involve the fire department. She says both she and her daughter have suffered headaches and respiratory symptoms while they wait for a real solution.
Sewage Backups Are Considered An Imminent Health Hazard
The Southern Nevada Health District classifies sewage backups as an "imminent health hazard," a category that can trigger public health enforcement if the situation is not addressed. Guidance from the Southern Nevada Health District stresses that raw sewage poses serious sanitation risks and is something communities and property owners are expected to treat urgently.
What The Law Requires
Nevada law requires landlords to keep rental units habitable, which includes maintaining plumbing and sewage disposal systems in good working order under state law at NRS 118A.290. Legal resources explain that tenants may have remedies when essential services fail, once they provide the required written notice, including options like repair-and-deduct or, in some circumstances, ending the lease. The state-level timelines and choices are outlined in materials from Nevada Legal Services.
How To Report And Where To Turn
Tenants facing sewage backups are typically advised to document the problem in writing, save records of all contacts with management and, if needed, file complaints with local code enforcement or health agencies. In unincorporated areas, Clark County’s Public Response Office handles code enforcement and provides phone numbers and complaint instructions online for renters and neighbors. Details are available through the Clark County Public Response Office.
Not An Isolated Problem
Similar complaints about sewage and sanitation at Valley apartment complexes have surfaced in previous local TV investigations, with some cases only getting cleaned up after reporters started asking questions and agencies stepped in. For a look at how earlier complaints played out, see coverage from KTNV.
Reynolds says she turned down the offer of a temporary move and remains in the affected unit while repairs are pending. She and other tenants are waiting to see how management and local authorities respond as they continue documenting health issues and consider their legal options.
