Colorado Springs homeowner expresses thanks to ‘The Road Warrior,’ city & utility officials for resolving sewer gas issue

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- From dismay to delight.

That's the range of emotions recently experienced by Rich Jenkins, the Las Vegas Street homeowner featured in reports by KRDO 13's The Road Warrior regarding a buildup of sewer gas in his home.

Jenkins said that the gas hasn't returned since the city and Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) took measures to determine where the gas was coming from and how to stop the buildup.

The final preventive steps, he explained, were to replace his garbage disposal and for the city to install a filter as an extra seal against sewer gas.

Jenkins said that, after sending more than 20 letters to city and utility officials expressing frustration with the initial response, he wrote to them again to thank them for their "support, perseverance and tenacity."

"I think (what made the difference) was 100% getting you involved," he told The Road Warrior. "But I think it was the second email that I sent out, basically as a full-on demand, that I needed this to be taken care of. I understand that issues involving underground infrastructure and wastewater systems can be complicated, and I greatly appreciate the effort that went into identifying and addressing the problem."

Jenkins was especially concerned about two elderly relatives who live with him, being exposed to the sewer gas.

"It was coming from every drain in the house," he recalled. "We had fans in every window trying to blow it outside. We had to wash our clothes to get rid of the smell. It was terrible."

So why didn't Jenkins and his family simply move to a hotel or other temporary housing during the ordeal?

"I didn't know how long I'd be out, or if I could afford it," he replied. "I didn't think of checking to see if insurance would cover something like that. And I didn't think it was my responsibility to leave home."

As reported previously, CSU determined that the increase in sewer gas coincided with increasing pressure to a bypass line as part of upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant just a few blocks east of Jenkins' house.

He also paid to have a new vent installed on his roof.

Jenkins is the only homeowner in his neighborhood who has reported having a sewer gas problerm.

"But it happened last weekend at one of the businesses where I work in Motor City," he revealed. "I don't know the details of it."

Stay up to date with the latest local news, sports, and investigations by downloading the KRDO13 app. Click here to download it from the Apple App Store. Android users can download it from Google Play here.