That article mentions nothing of it being pumped, just that their is most likely a leak somewhere along the lines. The main probably got cracked from the extra pressure during the floods (not to mention alot of Brisbane Sewage mains around the toowong area are over 70 years old).

I wouldnt go in that section of the river but I would think that with the large volume of Morton Bay that risk would be minimal going for a swim. The salt of the ocean tends to disinfect reasonably well not to mention the amount of dilution that is occuring in the bay given the amount of time that has passed since the flooding.

Joe, seriously?

Do you have any deeper understanding of the problem apart from the fact it must be a government conspiracy?

We have had a major flood event in Brisbane. Seach the news archives if you missed it. The flood/rain event actually started in Brisbane a good 2 weeks before the major flood levels were recorded in the Brisbane River catchment.

Sewerage treatment plants are always built in low lying areas near water courses. (let me know if you need an explanation as to why this is). The treatment plants and the infrastructure that connects them were very hard hit and are not fully functional yet, and won't be for at least another 6 weeks whilst they are repaired.

I know all this because I hear adds on the radio and read them in the paper every day, multiple times. The adds also warn us to avoid rivers and creeks because they could be contaminated....

I agree perhaps regular monitoring should be undertaken in the river, but there are a lot of erronous and ill-informed statements in your post. Also I am unsure I would trust a single sample taken and tested by a newspaper. They are not necessarily the most skilled and impartial testing "agency" I can think of.

Yes joefish it will sort itself out in time. I took my four year old daughter swimming at Scabouough over the weekend as i dont see any threat of us getting sick from this. as already said the levels will be higher up in creeks and closer to the source but they have to put it somewhere after the amount of rain we had. Im not sure if you have any idea of the pollutants that were allowed to be put into the river back in the days of mayor Atkinson but that was 100 times worse than it is now and a contributing factor of why bramble bay is the way it is.

How long have you been kiting joefish?

joefish said...

Thanks for your comments - interesting.
There is a new article. Which will hopefully mean that, in future, the water will at least be monitored.
Interesting how the councils/Urban utilities say their responsibility ends at the high water mark - its a State government responsibility.
www.couriermail.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes

And you have just discovered Seabreeze?

joefish said...


Interesting how the councils/Urban utilities say their responsibility ends at the high water mark - its a State government responsibility.
www.couriermail.com.au/nocookies?a=A.flavipes

Joe, actually they say they have no responsiblity below the high TIDE mark. Which is true, the ocean and tidal rivers are the state governments responsibility. Bligh is deliberately muddying the waters here if you excuse the pun.

If you think about it, no contamination of thsi nature can come from within the sea itself so provided councils monitor thier treatment plant outputs into the river (which they do, very rigerously) then any issues would be picked up very quickly at the source.

In a large flood event when sewerage plants cannot contain the flows, and in many cases are under water, then testing outflows becomes irrelevent. There are so many potential sources of contamination that cannot be controlled you can only assume that the water is contaminated until the plants are brought back on line.

As for regular testing of the lower brisbane river and bay, it is a state responsiblity. Non tidal creeks and inland rivers should be monitored by councils and enforced by the EPA.

I do agree with you that regular monitoring is sensible and should be done by the responsible entity. Most unexplainable contamination would probably come from burst/blocked/leaking pipes, not the plants themselves which operate under strict conditions.

Posted 06/02/2011, 6:57 pm
Had a call on Friday, Nudgee beach was officially re-opened. RRU was sent to take all closure signage off. Very few debris around, with water nearly back to normal state. Remaining beaches should follow suit in the next few days.
By Surf Connect. Go Figure?