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<\/p>\nAn accumulation of rag \u2013 material that does not break down, such as wet wipes \u2013 impacted the ability of the pumps, council told the department.<\/p>\n
An emergency bypass that council had fitted for the main was not big enough, which DETSI said in the order had \u201cresulted in prolonged sewage overflows\u201d.<\/p>\n
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The Logan River in flood in 2022. Credit: Healthy Land and Water<\/p>\n
Another overflow occurred in Yatala in September 2024 after a corroded rising main was isolated for repair, having leaked 750,000 litres of sewage into Sandy Creek, a tributary of the Logan River.<\/p>\n
Sewage spilled from an overflow pipe and a manhole into a drain that led to an area of high ecological significance, according to the order.<\/p>\n
Inspecting officers observed the presence of \u201cblack water, strong sewage odour, fish gasping for air, and several dead eels\u201d, the order said.<\/p>\n
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In December last year, a further 580,000 litres of sewage leaked into an unnamed tributary of the Albert River when a pump failed on the bypass of the area being repaired from the major spill.<\/p>\n
Officers found dirty water and dead fish in the water near the well-known highway stopover Yatala Pies, with rag buildup again to blame for the pump failure.<\/p>\n
In the order, the department highlighted that the council had not provided an emergency back-up pump for the bypass, choosing to rely on a single pump.<\/p>\n
The department has ordered the council to establish a risk framework for all sewage rising mains, emergency response plans for pumps at the bottom of rising mains, and contingency plans for those with the highest risk of failure.<\/p>\n
New pressure meters will be installed on pipes with a high risk of failure that lead to the council\u2019s sewage treatment plants, and magnetic velocity readers on high-risk pipes with flow of more than 40 litres a second.<\/p>\n
A council spokesperson said they had worked closed with DETSI since the Albert River spill and increased their investment in the system.<\/p>\n
They said DETSI\u2019s demands in the order aligned with work that was already under way.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have increased our investment in condition assessments to better understand the state of our critical assets, including sewerage rising mains,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n
In a statement, a department spokesperson said they understood the challenges faced by utility providers.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have worked collaboratively with Council to develop the requirements of the Environmental Enforcement Order (EEO), outlining actions to mitigate medium- to long-term infrastructure risks,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n