Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has served a notice on South Gippsland Water (SGW) requiring that unless treated water is compliant with its licence limitations, it must stop discharging from its Korumburra treatment plant into Foster Creek.
EPA is advising people to avoid contact with the water and not to fish from the Creek while this situation is resolved. EPA also expects SGW to continue to communicate and engage with the Creek water users until all discharges return to compliant levels.
The plant receives up to 1.3 megalitres of wastewater per day which is comprised of domestic sewage, along with trade waste from commercial and industrial customers.
EPA was alerted by SGW, in accordance with their licence, of a failure in the plant's processing capacity and a discharge of treated waste water above its licensed limit in January which EPA officers then inspected.
SGW reported there had been an unusual discharge of waste water for a few weeks with samples showing high levels of ammonia and phosphorus which adversely affected the plant's ability to treat waste water.
Anyone in the area of the treatment plant may notice elevated odour levels which are likely to remain above normal until this matter has been remedied.
EPA will continue to monitor the issue over the coming weeks and will remove the notice as soon as the plant is running in line with its licence conditions.
If you suspect pollution call EPA on 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842).
