Raw sewage leaking from a broken septic system is forcing some Tomkins Cove tenants from their homes. Marla Thompson says her family has been living with raw sewage running through the front yard of her rental property for two years. The Rockland County Health Department has sent citations about the problem to the landlord, Joseph Klein, of Spring Valley.

Dr. Joan Facelle, of the health department, says they have taken actions to pursue the matter in court and to allow the property to be vacated. However, Facelle says if the property owner proceeds in good faith with repairs, then a settlement could be reached.

An attorney for the landlord says a new septic tank has been ordered. Some tenants say it is too little, too late. The attorney adds that the landlord has spent thousands in the past months to fix the problem, but only discovered recently that a new tank was the answer. The health department will be monitoring the situation.