Human waste flows into major city's river

Yahoo

07-07-2025

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.