Human waste flows into major city's river
Water Corporation crews were repairing a burst wastewater main when they ran into technical issues, causing wastewater to backup and overflow into the river last week.
Residents were told to avoid all water activities in the Upper Swan between Bassendean and Viveash, in Perth's east, until further notice and avoid outdoor exercise in areas that stank. Residents in Perth's east have been warned to stay away from a section of the Upper Swan River after human waste spilt into the waterway from a burst wastewater main. Image: Water Corporation. Credit: Supplied
'Stay away from all affected water in the area,' a public health alert read.
'Temporary odour may be experienced in the vicinity of the affected area. To minimise odours, please keep windows closed and consider using fans or air purifiers if needed.'
It is the second incident in the past month where pools of human waste have spilt into the Swan River from burst wastewater pipes.
Raw sewage flowed across soccer pitches in Beaconsfield in June and ran all the way into Fremantle's Fishing Boat Harbour.
The City of Fremantle found human waste at the stormwater drain at the southern end of the harbour and closed the groyne.
Beaconsfield residents told Nine it smelled like a toilet. Human waste from burst wastewater pipes slid into Perth's Swan River and suburban areas in Beaconsfield and Spearwood last month. 9News Credit: Channel 9
Opposition water spokesman Peter Rundall called for an audit of Western Australia's wastewater infrastructure to prevent further environmental disasters.
Mr Rundall said while the state government boasted about multi-billion dollar surpluses, essential sewage services were falling apart.
'This isn't just an infrastructure failure – it's a serious public health and environmental threat,' he said.
'Families and communities have been exposed to human waste, and the public is being told to stay away from one of Perth's most iconic natural assets.
'This should be a wake-up call – the community deserves transparency on how water infrastructure is being funded and where it's falling short.
'Western Australians deserve better than this.' Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti told media the spill was clearly unacceptable and will work with Water Corporation to find out what could be done to prevent these incidents from occurring. NewsWire /Philip Gostelow Credit: NCA NewsWire
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti told media a second spill was clearly unacceptable and the government would work with Water Corporation to find out what could be done to prevent these incidents from occurring.
'This is not something that we want to see, or is acceptable, so we will continue to work with that agency to see what else we can do in relation to making sure we prevent these types of spillages,' she said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
9 News
4 hours ago
- 9 News
Woman swept away in floodwaters as NSW lashed with heavy rain
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here A woman is missing after being swept away in floodwaters in the NSW Hunter region as large parts of the state are drenched by heavy rain. Emergency services were called to Black Creek on Old North Road in Rothbury, 16km from Cessnock, about 7.50pm yesterday after reports a small car was trapped in floodwater. Police discovered the driver of a Mini Countryman had attempted to pass through floodwater before the car became bogged down. Emergency services were called to Black Creek on Old North Road in Rothbury yesterday. (9News) The driver, 27, and a passenger, a woman in her 20s, tried to exit the car however the passenger was swept away. The driver, also a woman, was uninjured. A large-scale search for the missing woman, including firefighters and SES, was suspended overnight. The search for the woman will resume today. NSW SES crews also found a 40-year-old man stuck in a tree nearby after he became trapped in floodwater yesterday. He was swept down the creek however SES crews were able to pull him out. A large-scale search for the missing woman, including firefighters and SES, was suspended overnight. (9News) Large parts of the state are being drenched by heavy rain, with more forecast today. (NSW SES) He was treated at the scene by ambulance before being taken to hospital. Old North Road in Rothbury has been closed due to flooding. Authorities have warned drivers to avoid trying to pass through flood-impacted areas. Heavy rainfall across large parts of NSW have caused flooding and the SES has issued 38 warnings for residents. More rain is forecast to hit the Coffs Coast, Mid North Coast, Upper HUnter and New England regions later today, with 24-hour totals between 65 and 100mm. Some isolated totals are expected to reach 130mm. SES has warned about dangerous black ice in the Northern Tablelands. (NSW SES) "We've had crews in Tamworth doorknocking low-lying areas to alert locals of potential localised flash flooding and road closures overnight tonight," SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan said. "We implore the community to never drive, walk or play in floodwater – if you come across a flooded road, turn around and find an alternative route." An emergency warning has been issued for parts of Scone due to major flooding, and people have been asked to evacuate. An evacuation centre in Scone is open at the Basketball Stadium. SES Assistant Commissioner Nicole Hogan said. (Supplied) Damaging wind gusts topping 90km/h and powerful surf are forecast to impact the region today too. Black ice is also causing dangerous conditions in the Northern Tablelands. Snow is falling in the area at "depths never seen before", the SES said. "We have road crash crews prepositioned and ready to respond to any rescues, but we ask the community to please avoid unnecessary travel," Hogan said. "If you do need to be on the roads in areas with snow, drive with caution, always use your brakes gently and drive slowly." CONTACT US
9 News
24-07-2025
- 9 News
Millions facing another winter storm as weather warnings issued
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here BREAKING Wrestling icon Hulk Hogan dead at 71 A huge wet weather system is moving eastward across Australia today, promising rain for most states and territories into the weekend. The Bureau of Meteorology said in a forecast the major cold front that had brought storms and wild weather to Western Australia earlier this week would move on to South Australia and the Northern Territory today. And parts of western New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria will also start to feel the front's effects later this afternoon and evening. A major wet weather system is moving east across Australia. (Weatherzone) A high-pressure system is set to ease conditions in Western Australia after a wild few days, which included a suspected tornado tearing through Perth. The weather in NSW is expected to be cold but sunny for much of the day, dropping as low as -5 degrees in Canberra with a top of 18 in Sydney. Heavy rain and strong winds are expected in the state's west this afternoon, before moving eastward into Saturday. A clean-up is under way across parts of Perth after a suspected tornado ripped through suburbs, uprooted trees and triggered flash flooding. (9News) Victoria's west is also expecting falls of up to 25 ml this afternoon and evening, which will be welcome rain for drought-wracked regional areas. Melbourne is looking at a cold and windy day with a top of 14. Things will be warmer in Queensland, with temperatures approaching 30 degrees for most of the day, before patchy rain and storms in the state's west and south-west later in the day. South Australia will cop the heaviest treatment from the major weather system today, with widespread rain and strong winds. Tasmania will be cool and cloudy before the rain moves in on Friday night, while the NT is set to see falls throughout the day. Multiple weather warnings are in place around the country. Weather News Weather Forecast Australia national CONTACT US Auto news: Why Australians are still driving around without insurance.
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- News.com.au
‘Environmental disaster:' Residents told to shut windows as more human waste flows into Perth's Swan River
Perth residents have been warned to shut their windows and stay out of the Swan River after human waste spilt into the waterway for a second time in just weeks. Water Corporation crews were repairing a burst wastewater main when they ran into technical issues, causing wastewater to backup and overflow into the river last week. Residents were told to avoid all water activities in the Upper Swan between Bassendean and Viveash, in Perth's east, until further notice and avoid outdoor exercise in areas that stank. 'Stay away from all affected water in the area,' a public health alert read. 'Temporary odour may be experienced in the vicinity of the affected area. To minimise odours, please keep windows closed and consider using fans or air purifiers if needed.' It is the second incident in the past month where pools of human waste have spilt into the Swan River from burst wastewater pipes. Raw sewage flowed across soccer pitches in Beaconsfield in June and ran all the way into Fremantle's Fishing Boat Harbour. The City of Fremantle found human waste at the stormwater drain at the southern end of the harbour and closed the groyne. Beaconsfield residents told Nine it smelled like a toilet. Opposition water spokesman Peter Rundall called for an audit of Western Australia's wastewater infrastructure to prevent further environmental disasters. Mr Rundall said while the state government boasted about multi-billion dollar surpluses, essential sewage services were falling apart. 'This isn't just an infrastructure failure – it's a serious public health and environmental threat,' he said. 'Families and communities have been exposed to human waste, and the public is being told to stay away from one of Perth's most iconic natural assets. 'This should be a wake-up call – the community deserves transparency on how water infrastructure is being funded and where it's falling short. 'Western Australians deserve better than this.' Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti told media a second spill was clearly unacceptable and the government would work with Water Corporation to find out what could be done to prevent these incidents from occurring. 'This is not something that we want to see, or is acceptable, so we will continue to work with that agency to see what else we can do in relation to making sure we prevent these types of spillages,' she said.
