RAW sewage was dumped into waterways around Melbourne
#1
RAW sewage was dumped into waterways around Melbourne
RAW sewage was dumped into a series of rivers and creeks around Melbourne at the height of this month's floods after the city's sewage network failed to cope.
A host of urban waterways, including the Yarra River, Maribyrnong River, Merri Creek, and Moonee Ponds Creek were subjected to the dumping as Melbourne Water sought to prevent sewage backing up into Melbourne homes.
Drains in Elwood, Brighton and Hampton were also fouled, prompting accusations that authorities failed to properly warn people of the risks to human health.
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The incident occurred on the weekend of February 5, when up to 195 millimetres of rain fell over parts of Melbourne. The deluge overwhelmed the major sewage treatment plants, forcing Melbourne Water to dump untreated waste through emergency sewer exits around the city.
It was unclear yesterday when, if ever, Melbourne Water last had to resort to such an extraordinary procedure.
The sewers carry wastes from households and businesses - including toilet waste, bathwater and industrial discharges - and are separate to the drainage system that collects stormwater run-off from roads and other surfaces.
Melbourne Water mentioned the sewage dumping in a press release on Saturday, February 5, but did not reveal the locations until asked by The Age yesterday.
In the seventh paragraph of the February 5 press release, Melbourne Water said it was ''co-ordinating releases of waste water into drains and waterways via special emergency relief points''.
The same press release later warned people to stay out of waterways because there could be elevated levels of E. coli - a warning that is made after most heavy rains.
Clean Ocean Foundation spokesman James Clark-Kennedy said those mentions did not convey the gravity of the situation, and Melbourne Water had jeopardised human health by underplaying the incident.
''Why do we have to fish into the [lower] paragraphs of a press release … the communication has been bloody disappointing,'' he said.
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A host of urban waterways, including the Yarra River, Maribyrnong River, Merri Creek, and Moonee Ponds Creek were subjected to the dumping as Melbourne Water sought to prevent sewage backing up into Melbourne homes.
Drains in Elwood, Brighton and Hampton were also fouled, prompting accusations that authorities failed to properly warn people of the risks to human health.
Advertisement: Story continues below
The incident occurred on the weekend of February 5, when up to 195 millimetres of rain fell over parts of Melbourne. The deluge overwhelmed the major sewage treatment plants, forcing Melbourne Water to dump untreated waste through emergency sewer exits around the city.
It was unclear yesterday when, if ever, Melbourne Water last had to resort to such an extraordinary procedure.
The sewers carry wastes from households and businesses - including toilet waste, bathwater and industrial discharges - and are separate to the drainage system that collects stormwater run-off from roads and other surfaces.
Melbourne Water mentioned the sewage dumping in a press release on Saturday, February 5, but did not reveal the locations until asked by The Age yesterday.
In the seventh paragraph of the February 5 press release, Melbourne Water said it was ''co-ordinating releases of waste water into drains and waterways via special emergency relief points''.
The same press release later warned people to stay out of waterways because there could be elevated levels of E. coli - a warning that is made after most heavy rains.
Clean Ocean Foundation spokesman James Clark-Kennedy said those mentions did not convey the gravity of the situation, and Melbourne Water had jeopardised human health by underplaying the incident.
''Why do we have to fish into the [lower] paragraphs of a press release … the communication has been bloody disappointing,'' he said.
.......
#2
Re: RAW sewage was dumped into waterways around Melbourne
My area in SE Melbourne is the worst victim of this. Where there were vales and flowers a month back, its gutter now. Our parks, creeks and fields have been contaminated by foul smell, flies, worms, etc. Feels like I'm home (India) again
#5
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,814
Re: RAW sewage was dumped into waterways around Melbourne
Sounds like a question of the devil or the deep blue sea. If it wasn't dumped into the creeks it was going to backup into houses as a result of the deluge of rain that night.
#6
Just Joined
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Johannesburg
Posts: 7
Re: RAW sewage was dumped into waterways around Melbourne
That just sounds horrible. For the sake of residents' health, couldn't they have found a remote place to dump the sewage. I can't imagine what people living in and around that area must be going through. It is totally unacceptable
#7
Re: RAW sewage was dumped into waterways around Melbourne
Housing affordability would probably be better there too
#8
Re: RAW sewage was dumped into waterways around Melbourne
they probably dont have random pipes going off to some 'uninhabited place' in case of emergency - and just had to usewhat equipment, connections,pipes and outlets in place already.