Status
Recovery
Incident Date
14 October 2022
Locations Affected
Victoria

Floodwaters carry risks such as water-borne diseases. We have created resources to help you manage the impacts of floods on human health and the environment. 
 

If you are in immediate danger and require urgent assistance, dial 000. If you are not in immediate danger, but you require immediate relief assistance, call Emergency Recovery Victoria's hotline on 1800 560 760

 

Links to the latest Victorian flood information

 

Community health advice

EPA has advice on looking after your health during and after a flood. EPA also issues water quality alerts when there is an issue impacting a waterway in Victoria.  

Test results from our flood-impacted waterways

Since 20 October we have monitored the water quality of 14 waterways at 37 locations across Victoria. Testing stopped in some locations when floodwaters receded.

As of 21 December 2022, we are monitoring 24 locations. Our focus is on waterways with high recreational use.

 

Our data shows contaminants of potential concern (CPOC) were generally below levels of concern, but bacteria levels can spike quickly, particularly after small rainfall events.

Avoid swimming in Victorian waterways and beaches after a heavy rain

EPA advises against swimming at all waterways and beaches for 48 hours after a heavy rain, and for much longer in the event of a flood. Heavy rains and floods can carry pollution and disease-causing bacteria into our waterways which increases the risk of illness to swimmers. We will update you via our water quality alerts page as soon as we have more information.

 

As a precautionary measure, do not swim, boat, kayak or fish in flood-impacted waters.

Avoid contact with floodwaters

There are many potential health risks associated with floodwaters. To protect your health, assume all floodwaters are contaminated. Don’t wade through floodwater, even if it is shallow, and try to avoid contact with flood water, mud and dirt. If contact is unavoidable, please follow these tips to avoid infection from floodwaters

Always wash your hands with soap and running water after contact with floodwater, or after handling anything that may have been in contact with flood-impacted water or soil.

Risk of foodborne illness from homegrown garden produce

Floodwaters can carry many things that may harm human health. If your garden has been in contact with floodwaters, your homegrown produce may not be safe to eat. While some of your fruits and vegetables may be salvageable, if you are in any doubt, you should dispose of them. To reduce your risk, see our guidance on how to avoid illness from flood-impacted garden produce

Guidance when pumping floodwaters

Assume all floodwaters may be contaminated. The risk of pumping water varies, depending on the nature and extent of any water contamination, and where the water will be deposited. Before you commence pumping, please read our guidance on how to minimise risks when pumping floodwaters

Check your septic systems for potential damage

If your property has been affected by floodwater, you should have a licensed plumber or service technician assess your septic system for safety and function. If you use a damaged system, there’s a risk that sewage could back up into your house or garden. This could cause a human health and pollution risk. Read our guide to managing flood-impacted septic systems

Overflow issues at several wastewater treatment plants

EPA is monitoring a significant number of issues related to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) overflowing across Victoria due to heavy rainfall including sewage issues. More information will be released as soon as possible.

 

Guidance for managing the impact of floods

    For emergency waste management information, please contact EPA on 1300 372 842

    How to manage waste after a flood

    EPA is supporting local government and clean up operators to ensuring the right waste goes to the right places.

     

    Be cautious when assessing and working with flood-impacted property. It is not always possible to tell whether something contains asbestos, or some other dangerous material, just by looking at it.

     

    • Waste duties apply to all Victorians. You need to classify hazardous or high-risk waste as reportable priority waste. Requirements apply for transport and disposal of this waste.
    • If you are a driver, producer or receiver of flood-affected waste, you must use our Waste Tracker app to log any flood-affected waste that is likely to contain potentially hazardous waste (known as reportable priority waste). When updating your waste record, please select the waste classification that best describes the flood-affected waste, and then in the additional information section, enter the description WLW17102022.
    • You must categorise priority waste consigned for disposal. For more information, download our publication Waste disposal categories – characteristics and thresholds.
    • Accredited consigners can help you classify your waste and meet your waste duties.
       

    Emergency authorisation of discharges or disposal (ADD)

    In an emergency, EPA can authorise discharges, emissions, storage, treatment, disposal and handling of waste. A number of emergency ADDs were issued to assist in the flood cleanup process. 

    Flood-related ADDs issued
    • ADD DTA-00009893
      VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
      415 New Dookie Rd, Lemnos, VIC, 3631
      18/10/2022 to 15/02/2023
    • ADD DTA-00009973
      GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL
      Shepparton Transfer Station
      125 Wanganui Rd, Shepparton, VIC, 3630
      18/10/2022 to 15/02/2023
    • ADD DTA-00009971
      GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL
      Ardmona Transfer Station
      770 Turnbull Rd, Ardmona, VIC, 3629
      18/10/2022 to 15/02/2023
    • ADD DTA-00009965
      GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL
      Landfill       205 Quarry Rd, Pine Lodge, VIC, 3631
      18/10/2022 to 15/02/2022
    • ADD DTA-00009916
      GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL 
      Murchison Transfer Station
      15 Cassidy Rd, Murchison, VIC, 3610
      18/10/2022 to 15/02/2022
    • ADD DTA-00009976
      MITCHELL SHIRE COUNCIL
      Seymour Transfer Station
      470 Seymour-Tooborac Rd, Hilldene, VIC, 3660
      19/10/2022 to 16/02/2023
    • ADD DTA-00009926
      BENALLA RURAL CITY COUNCIL
      Benalla Landfill
      96 Old Farnley Rd, Benalla, VIC, 3672       
      20/10/2022 to 18/11/2022
    • ADD DTA-00009927
      FUTURE RECYCLING PTY. LTD.
      Shepparton Transfer Station
      121-135 Old Dookie Rd, Shepparton, VIC, 3630
      20/10/2022 to 17/02/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010047
      WESTERN COMPOSTING TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD
      165 Daldy Rd, Shepparton North, VIC, 3631
      25/10/2022 to 30/12/2022
    • ADD DTA-00010030
      CENTRAL GIPPSLAND REGION WATER CORPORATION
      1950 Longford-Loch Sport Rd, Dutson, VIC, 3851
      24/10/2022 to 21/02/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010111
      WANGARATTA RURAL CITY COUNCIL
      Organics Facility
      64 Byawatha Rd West, North Wangaratta, VIC, 3678
      27/10/2022 to 30/11/2022
    • ADD DTA-00010123
      MOIRA SHIRE COUNCIL
      Cobram Transfer Station
      56 Pye Rd, Cobram East, VIC, 3644
      27/10/2022 to 9/12/2022
    • ADD DTA-00010374
      MANINGTREE CORPORATION PTY LTD
      1203 Goornong Mayreef Road, Elmore, Vic
      24/10/2022 to 31/01/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010369
      SYCLE AVALON PTY LTD
      479 EVERARD ROAD, KYABRAM
      21/10/2022 to 17/02/2023
    • ADD DTA-00009482
      ILUKA RESOURCES LIMITED
      Elliots Road, Kanagulk, VIC, 3401  
      11/11/2022 to 16/12/2022
    • ADD DTA-00010386
      VAN SCHAIK'S BIO GRO PTY LTD
      1477 Yorkshire Road, Newbridge, VIC
      14/11/2022 to 3/07/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010437
      HORSHAM RURAL CITY COUNCIL
      92 & 131 Ladlows Road, Dooen, VIC
      11/10/2022 to 1/10/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010569
      Mildura Rural City Council
      690 Twentieth Street, Koorlong VIC 3501
      16/11/2022 to 31/12/2022
    • ADD DTA-00010633
      Gannawarra Shire Council
      Denyer Road Landfill, Wandella, 2550
      15/11/2022 to 14/03/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010632
      Gannawarra Shire Council
      12 View Street, Koondrook, VIC, 3580
      15/11/2022 to 14/03/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010423
      VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
      Patho Landfill
      320 Davis Road, Patho, VIC, 3564
      9/11/2022 to 9/03/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010270
      FONTERRA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
      20 Midland Hwy, Stanhope, VIC, 3623
      4/11/2022 to 4/03/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010190
      Campase Shire Council
      Echuca Sale Yards, LOT 2 McKenzie Rd, Echuca, VIC, 3564
      1/11/2022 to 31/01/2023
    • ADD DTA-00010711
      CAMPASPE SHIRE COUNCIL
      22 Malloy Street, Rochester, VIC 3561
      16/10/2022 to 13/02/2023
    • ADD-DTA-00010510
      NORTH EAST REGION WATER CORPORATION
      Sawmill Lane, Moyhu, VIC 3732
      10/11/2022 to 10/03/2023

    Flood responsibilities by organisation

    Flood management is shared responsibility among agencies and including but not limited to:

    • Emergency Management Victoria
    • Department of Health
    • Local Government
    • Agriculture Victoria
    • Environment Protection Authority
    • Victorian Fisheries Authority
    • Catchment Management Authorities
    • Water corporations.

    EPA's role during the flood emergency

    EPA is a technical support agency. This means we provide technical and scientific information and advice to emergency and recovery services.

    For more information

    See our resource page on how to clean up after a flood 

    Reviewed 18 December 2023