Recent floods and wastewater - Broome - UPDATE

Update: Wednesday, 31 January 2018 – 5pm

Water Corporation is advising people not to swim, fish or recreate in Roebuck Bay in Broome until further notice as a precautionary measure, after stormwater infiltration caused an overflow of treated wastewater at Broome South Wastewater Treatment Plant.

It is important to note this is not raw wastewater – it has gone through the treatment process onsite.

Broome South Wastewater Treatment Plant - Clementson Street.

Treated wastewater from the ponds has overflowed via a spillway outside the Broome South Wastewater Treatment Plant’s boundary, where it is mixing with stormwater flowing into Roebuck Bay.

Signage is in place to advise the public to keep away from the area.

Broome North Wastewater Treatment Plant - Crab Creek Road

Treated wastewater from the ponds at the Broome North Wastewater Treatment Plant began to overflow outside the Plant’s boundary yesterday evening.  The treated wastewater has pooled behind the plant and is contained.  An aerial survey of the site has confirmed there is no risk of treated wastewater from this plant entering Roebuck Bay.

Overflows from both plants have reduced significantly today as Water Corporation crews work to reduce the level of the ponds at both plants.

Water Corporation is continuing to work with the Department of Health, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation and the Shire of Broome.

Water Corporation is carrying out water sampling, which will inform the decision to remove public warning signs. A further update will be issued once the two plants resume normal operations.

Water Corporation is reminding people to keep away from stormwater drains, which may be temporally full of fast-flowing water after this heavy rain.  There is the potential for flowing stormwater to knock pets and small children off their feet, and they can become caught in drains. 

To report any issues with your water or wastewater services, phone Water Corporation 24 hours on 13 13 75.

Water Corporation apologises for this overflows which occurred due to the extreme weather event.

*Wastewater is 99.97 per cent water as it comes mostly from showers, baths and washing machines