SOUTH East Water has apologised for its second sewer spill into a natural water course on the Mornington Peninsula in four weeks but says it has not found the cause. The first sewer spill into Tanti Creek on 5 May and was followed last Wednesday (5 June) by one that flowed down Balcombe Creek into the estuary at Mount Martha.
The water authority has a sewerage treatment plant at the corner of Craigie Road and Moorooduc Highway, Mount Martha. Balcombe Creek runs through that property and the neighbouring, The Briars Park. People and animal owners were advised on Wednesday not to use or handle water in the creek, estuary and at Mount Martha Beach North until advised otherwise. A SEW media release advised that the spill was contained quickly and clean up works, including water testing, were underway within hours.
Treatment and recovery services manager Carolyn Madden said the organisation was aware sewage spills could be concerning for the community and offered an apology for any “mess and potential smells”, as well as any subsequent impacts to community activities.
“Once alerted to the [latest] spill, we responded immediately to contain it. Our priority now is to continue clean up and repair works, and closely monitor the area. This includes daily water quality testing to monitor and mitigate the impacts on the environment,” she said.
“Through our sewer maintenance and monitoring program, we do everything possible to avoid spills on the peninsula. They sometimes happen because of a build-up of tree roots and fats and/or asset failure. We use thousands of sensors and systems with alarms that detect potential blockages or overflows across our network, including the peninsula, before they impact our customers or the environment.
“Unfortunately, on this occasion one of our large sewer pipes failed. We’re still looking into the cause. We’ve notified the EPA, Melbourne Water, Victorian Fishing Authority, Mornington Peninsula Shire Council, and local community groups. We’ll continue to work with them on the situation and provide updates on our progress.”
Residents and visitors can stay up to date with the latest information on our Facebook page facebook.com/SEWmelbourne
First published in the Mornington News – 11th June 2024
