Canberra resident forced to place onions in toilet after ceiling leaks

A HDB resident of Block 121D Canberra Street resorted to placing onions in her toilets after sewage repeatedly leaked from the ceiling.

Ms Fan, 51, told Lianhe Zaobao that the ceilings of her toilets have been leaking continuously since September 2023, coinciding with the start of renovations in the unit above hers.

"The ceiling above the toilet was leaking, dripping yellow sewage, leading me to suspect it was seeping down from the toilet upstairs."

Dirty water also began dripping from the ceiling of the master bedroom toilet, prompting her family to use onions to try and neutralise the odour.

When Ms Fan informed her neighbour about the issue, he explained that his flat was undergoing renovations, including a toilet replacement.

The leaks stopped temporarily, only to resume a few days later.

She approached her neighbour again, but this time, the neighbour was uncooperative.

In addition to the leaking toilets, mould also developed in the bedroom, which Ms Fan believes caused her Primary 5 son to fall ill.

Ms Fan contacted the authorities numerous times. Each time an inspection was conducted, the leaks would stop, only to restart a few days later.

Ms Liu, 28, the upstairs neighbour, told reporters that authorities had inspected her floor after Chinese New Year, concluding the leak wasn't originating from her unit.

"Since the problem wasn't caused by us, if they have any objections, they should report it directly to the authorities."

According to the HDB website, ceiling leaks are typically caused by deteriorated waterproofing, and both the upper and lower floor units share the responsibility for resolving the issue. The HDB recommends that both units discuss a solution and engage a contractor.