Residents from Trivelis flats in Clementi are probably feeling a little shitty after a sewage pipe on the fourth floor burst on the morning of July 31.

This resulted in a rain of fecal water and an overpowering stench.

According to Lianhe Wanbao, they were also unable to retrieve letters for two days as part of the ground floor, including the letterboxes, was sealed off to aid investigations.

Nauseating odour

A Wanbao reader known as Chen, 29, lives in block 311C of the cluster.

He told the Chinese Daily that the corridor beneath his apartment was flooded with sewage waters.

The amount of water was substantial and odour was enough to make him nauseated, Chen added.

A photo provided to Wanbao also showed that the accumulated water was light yellow in colour.

On the second day after the incident occurred, Chen was alarmed to find a section of the ground floor, including the letterboxes, being cordoned off and a part of the ceiling above the letterboxes missing.

Lingering stench

On the night of August 1, a Wanbao reporter visited the event site to find that the sewage water has been cleaned up.

The stench, however, lingered.

A couple of the residents who did not experience the sewage waters first-hand lamented the inconvenience of having their letterboxes inaccessible.

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Ceiling and lights damaged

The town council expects repair works to be completed by August 8.

Investigations revealed that the accident on the fourth floor had damaged ceiling and corridor lights.

A spokesperson from the Holland Bukit-Panjang town council told Wanbao that part of the ceiling was deliberately removed to aid investigations.

Temporary lights will be installed for the residents' convenience while works are ongoing.

DBSS Flat

Trivelis is under the DBSS (Design, Build, and Sell) scheme where homeowners purchase the property from the developer instead of the government.

Its eligibility conditions were the same as those of a HDB flat, but prices were higher at S$370,000 to S$800,000 per unit. 

Although it was marketed as a premium development, the property has seen a deluge of complaints since its completion in 2015.

Problems included shattering glass shower panels and poor quality flooring, among others.

A goodwill package was subsequently extended to residents.