Woodman Point fish health warning
Health warning for recreational anglers: Woodman Point
At about 12.30am on Monday, 5 September 2011, the Water Corporation used its contingency outlet pipe from the Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant to release treated wastewater 1.6 kilometres offshore.
This is an unusual event, and as a precautionary measure, the Department of Health is advising recreational anglers to avoid eating raw fish caught in this area until further notice.
Environmental Health Acting Director Richard Theobald said the risk to human health was considered to be low and the advice to avoid eating uncooked fish was precautionary.
"While it is unlikely that anyone who eats raw fish caught in this area would become unwell, it is not advisable," Mr Theobald said.
"Anyone who has consumed fish caught in the area and becomes ill is advised to see their doctor," he said.
The release of two million litres of treated wastewater offshore at Woodman Point instead of at the Plant's Point Peron outlet was necessary due to a fault with a valve at the Plant which the Water Corporation is working to repair.
"It is anticipated that the treated wastewater will disperse naturally over coming days," Mr Theobald said.
The Department of Health will continue to monitor the situation and will provide further updates when required.
_0.thumbnail.JPG "Binningup Salmon")
Spicey
Posts: 219
Date Joined: 17/01/11
No Sashimi then
No Sashimi then
Jamos Damokos
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Date Joined: 11/08/11
sounds crappy...
sounds crappy...
Twiddling my thumbs with velvet gloves on.
tailor marc
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Blind mullet central
Blind mullet central
My photography pictures... http://westernhorizonsmedia.wordpress.com/
pudzz
Posts: 110
Date Joined: 23/06/10
blind mullet central
hahahahahaha marc..!
thats pretty bad doesnt even seem like they care about then enviroment just tell us theres a health warning..
"We just dumped 2 million litres of waste water at woodman pt but dont worry the water will disperse over some days so dont eat raw fish and if you catch a sneezing fish its got swine flu n should be killed right away.... <-- just my smart a** opinion
mrwinta
Posts: 457
Date Joined: 14/01/10
So does that mean that the
So does that mean that the same waste water usually just gets dumped at point perron instead. I spend a lot of time in the waters arround point perron and eat fish from there so does that pose a health risk? when they say waste water does that mean sewage?
NEVER PUSH YOUR GRANNY WHEN SHE'S SHAVING
Daniel Y
Posts: 423
Date Joined: 30/09/05
Yeah mate theres a waste
Yeah mate theres a waste water outfall at pt peron. It's been there for years. It sounds bad, but really it's not that bad. As mentioned the waste water is highly treated so it's not just raw sewage. Basically theres a pipe that extends around 4km out from Pt Peron. It has an outfall length of around 400m from memory with about 70 diffusers on it so the wate water doesn't just sit on the bottom, but mixes with the ocean water more rapidly.
Point peron was chosen because the turbulent water in the area increases the effluent diffusion. If they just dumped all the water at say rockingham jetty, then there might be more of a health risk as the water would just become stratified with big layers of waste water just remaining in the water column, not mixing.
I've got a feeling this is why they issued a health warning for woodies, because the water is not as well mixed there as it is at point peron, which could mean the waste water will remain concentrated in the water column for longer. I don't think this 'incident' will make the fish any more of a health risk then they already are, considering all the crap that leaches into the sound all year round from the factories and ships.
bod
Posts: 2321
Date Joined: 03/05/06
update
http://www.watercorporation.com.au/I/incidents.cfm?uid=7300-2538-3472-1145
Treated wastewater overflow - Woodman Point - updated 12:07pm - 7/9/11We have been working hard for the last 24 hours to manage the wastewater flows at the Plant to minimise the need to release treated wastewater from the contingency outlet pipe. This has been done by diverting some flows to the Subiaco Wastewater Treatment Plant to reduce the load on Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant and carefully managing peak flows at the Plant.
Overnight a total of 1.25 million litres of highly treated wastewater was released from the contingency outlet pipe 1.6kms offshore. This represents less than 1 per cent of the volume of wastewater processed at the Plant over the last 24 hours. The remaining wastewater was discharged via the Plant's usual ocean outfall located at Point Peron.
Significant work has progressed to develop a strategy to isolate the failed valve. A major engineering solution is likely to be required to return the Plant to normal operations.
The Corporation is continuing to work closely with the Departments of Environment and Health who are monitoring the situation.
As a precautionary measure, the Department of Health issued a warning Monday 5 September to recreational anglers not to eat uncooked fish caught in the area-see statement at bottom of page.
Perth residents living south of the Swan River are asked to minimise theuse of major water using appliances today - such as dishwashers and washing machines. This will help to reduce inflows to the Plant and will assist in repairing works.
Treated wastewater overflow - Woodman Point - updated 9.06am - 6/9/11During a five hour period overnight, approximately 6.8 million litres of highly treated wastewater was released from the Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant - 1.6kms offshore via its contingency outlet pipe. This represents about 5 per cent of the volume of wastewater processed at the Plant over the last 24 hours. The remaining wastewater was discharged via the Plant's usual ocean outfall located at Point Peron.
Technicians are continuining their work onsite today to fix a faulty valve.
Perth residents living South of the Swan River are asked to minimise the use of major water using appliances today - such as dishwashers and washing machines. This will help to reduce inflows to the Plant and will assist in repairing the valve.
Treated wastewater overflow - Woodman Point - updated 4.50pm - 5/9/11The Water Corporation can confirm that at 12.30am today (5 September 2011), two million litres of highly treated wastewater was released 1.6 kilometres offshore via a contingency outlet pipe from its Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Business Manager Wastewater Treatment Mark Herbert said wastewater from the plant was usually released offshore at Point Peron but a faulty valve at the Plant meant that the contingency outlet pipe at Woodman Point had to be used.
"This type of release does not happen frequently but the contingency outlet pipe is there for this type of situation," he said.
He said technicians had worked throughout the night on a temporary repair and this work had continued today.
"We are doing everything we can but at this stage, I am unable to say when the repair will be completed," he said. "Further releases through the contingency outlet may occur when the plant receives peak inflows."
"As part of our contingency arrangements we have diverted some of the inflows to other treatment plants today and this will help alleviate pressure on the plant."
Mr Herbert explained that the Woodman Point Plant treated more than 120 million litres of wastewater each day and this was usually released offshore through an outlet at Point Peron.
The Water Corporation is licensed to release treated wastewater via the contingency outlet.
He said the Corporation would continue to work closely with the Departments of Environment and Health who were monitoring the situation.
As a precautionary measure, the Department of Health issued a warning today to recreational anglers not to eat uncooked fish caught in the area.
The Woodman Point Wastewater Treatment Plant treats wastewater for a population of more than half a million people living south of the Swan River in the Perth metropolitan area