Residents say they could face prosecution if they do not pay thousands of pounds to repair a water pipe outside their homes.
The residents of five houses in Pontycymer, Bridgend county, said they were told by Welsh Water that a leak from the shared water pipe supplying their homes needs to be repaired at their own cost, which they estimate could cost more than £7,000 each.
The Garw Valley locals claim they have been given no evidence of where the leak is which their insurance companies need to cover the cost, causing sleepless nights.
A Welsh Water spokesperson said the pipe was not owned or managed by them and was the responsibility of property owners, but have offered to cover some costs.
The group say they have been given until the end of July to resolve the issue or face prosecution.
The estimated cost of more than £7,000 would go towards replacing the rear water pipe in their back gardens with a new pipe at the front of the terraced row, they said, along with connecting it to each house individually.
Resident Nerys Walters said the dispute had brought her massive amounts of stress over the last two years.
She said they initially thought the cost of repairs could be covered through insurance, but with no evidence of the leak being provided, insurers have said they would not pay out.
Walters said: “It’s been a nightmare situation for us that has really caused us all a lot of stress.
“Welsh Water have said they would pay for a new line that runs parallel to the front of the property, but we would then have to fund the cost of it coming in from the gate, and through the house to our rear stopcock.
Walters said she had spoken to “numerous contractors” who quoted the residents more than £1,000 a metre for the work.
“This has been going on for about a year and a half now and we’ve been asking for that evidence ever since but have been given nothing”, she said.
“No evidence of the leak, and no reason as to why they adopted other pipes in the street but not ours. All the while the deadline they have given runs down. It’s been very difficult and we just want to get it sorted.”
