NORTHERN Ireland Water was last night criticised by residents in north Belfast for its "terrible" response to flooding in the area, which left some properties over-run by raw sewage.
Heavy rainfall on Friday saw homes in the Brompton Park and Etna Drive areas worst hit.
One resident, whose backyard was completely flooded with raw sewage, said she had called NI Water for help on Friday but was yesterday still waiting for someone to contact her.
Sinead McDaid, who lives in Etna Drive, branded the response "terrible".
The 50-year-old said her backyard was "destroyed" when water bubbled up from the drain.
"I smelt something and went downstairs," she said.
"In the backyard, it was actually floating down the path. It came right up to the bottom step".
Ms McDaid said her partner put tyres over the drain to try and stop the sewage bubbling through but it continued to do so.
"The water drained away and we were left with about 2cm of raw sewage.
"I'm running downstairs to make sure it hasn't flooded into the kitchen. I haven't been able to cook because of the smell coming into the kitchen and haven't been able to use the washing machine because of the water out back," she said.
"It has been terrible. I have waited in three days and nobody has come to my door. They sent me a survey after I phoned them to ask how good their response was. They haven't given me any response yet".
SDLP councillor Paul McCusker claimed residents had been left to clean up sewage themselves claiming NI Water "failed to address these problems".
"We need an urgent response that will reassure residents and to investigate why this has happened, with more heavy rain forecast local residents need to be supported to prevent further flooding and to help with the clean up," he said.
Mr McCusker said he would be contacting the Department for Infrastructure, the Department for Communities and Belfast City Council.
"It’s unacceptable to leave those residents affected to deal with this on their own," he said.
Meanwhile, after serious flooding in Belfast city centre on Friday, which saw businesses in the Berry Street area affected, there were similar issues elsewhere.
With thunderstorms predicted for Northern Ireland for much of Saturday, there was widespread flooding.
Among the places affected was Garrison, Belleek and Cashel in Co Fermanagh as well as Strabane and Sion Mills in Co Tyrone.
NI Water last night said flash flooding had impacted a number of areas and "as a result of the volume of rain and rivers and water courses bursting their banks".
“NI Water responded to a high number of customer contacts for flooding and sewer blockages on Friday and Saturday and NI Water teams and contractors were dispatched across Northern Ireland.
"Teams were dispatched to Ardoyne to help with the clean up operation with additional resource deployed on Sunday to continue the clean-up.
“NI Water did not experience any failures of its asset infrastructure. Where blocked sewers contributed to flooding, NI Water has cleared these and will follow up with CCTV investigations if necessary."
A spokesman for the utility said staff "attended individual properties and carried out clean-up and disinfectant operations where out of sewer flooding occurred".
Customers who experience flooding are encouraged to phone the multi-agency Flooding Incident Line on 0300 2000 100.
