Ballasalla residents had a narrow escape from a smelly end recently after an IRIS pumping station flooded with sewage.The alarm was raised after communications failed with the Blackboards pumping station due to a short-circuited power supply.Department of Transport tankers pumped out half a metre of sewage from the station.A statement from the department said the flow was diverted away from Ballasalla but lengthy repairs will now be needed to bring the station back online.An investigation into the incident has now started.(Pictured: Meary Veg, centrepiece of the new IRIS sewage system)