This week, the Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) and Environment Protection Agency Victoria (EPA) have been working together to better understand and characterise the possible contamination issues presented by Victoria’s regional flooding emergency.
Since Monday 31 October, VICSES members have been collecting samples of flood waters from impacted regions and waterways across Victoria, to further understand the level of risk to human health and the environment.
Once collected, the EPA then tests these samples for bacteria (E. coli, an indicator for faecal contamination) and a range of trace elements (such as metals and metalloids) and contaminants (organic chemicals such as pesticides, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and petroleum hydrocarbons).
Water samples will continue to be collected once a week, for the next three weeks with results made available as soon as possible, along with any health advice that might be necessary.
Floodwater is treated as contaminated water, and usually occurs from naturally occurring sources as well as overflowing sewerage or septic tanks, or agricultural or industrial wastes and chemicals. With an increased amount of floodwater in our catchments, this testing will provide a greater understanding of water quality across the state.
At this stage, sampling from sixteen sites is being worked on with collection from the Snowy River, Goulburn River, Broken Creek, Campaspe River, Loddon River, Murray River, Little Murray River, Lake Nagambie and Lake Eppalock.
