News

Shepparton floodwater indicating 'very high’ levels of E. coli

By Anna McGuinness

Nov 7, 2022

Potentially hazardous: Balaclava Rd in Shepparton covered in water during the October floods. Photo: Megan Fisher. Photo by Megan Fisher

The community is being urged to avoid contact with floodwater after indicative results from testing in Shepparton showed “very high” levels of the faecal bacterial indicator E. coli.

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It was part of the first round of regional floodwater testing, with water samples collected by the SES and testing carried out by Environment Protection Authority Victoria.

Samples from the Goulburn River at Shepparton contained E. coli at 2000 MPN/100ml, with the guideline for the bacteria around 550/MPN.

The other sites — Lake Nagambie, Campaspe River at Kyneton and Rochester, Broken River at Benalla, Loddon River at Kerang and Coliban Pool at Lake Eppalock — were all well under the E. coli guideline.

“These results are only indicative but show a similar picture to what we found in other floodwater tests at the Maribyrnong River with a better-than-expected outcome,” EPA chief environmental scientist Professor Mark Taylor said.

“SES collected samples at multiple flood locations, and we can see a general trend that the high flow of water is reducing contamination.

“But this is going to be variable, and we need to continue to treat all floodwater as contaminated and avoid contact with it wherever possible.”

The EPA and SES will continue the testing program for the next few weeks to provide communities with a greater understanding of floodwater contamination issues.

For information visit epa.vic.gov.au/for-community/flood-impacted-rivers