A MAINTENANCE malfunction at a Water Corporation pumping station has discharged more than 500,000L of sewage into the Southern River in Brookdale, Western Australia.
The incident occurred at 8pm on 7 July 2008, during a Water Corporation maintenance operation on a major pipeline.
Repairs on the pipeline took longer than expected. As a result, pump stations reached capacity and nearly overflowed into residential areas. To avoid this, workers released the waste into the Southern River.
River authorities and the Department of Environment and Conservation say they will investigate the incident and take any warranted legal action.
Swan River Trust says its officers were onsite within half an hour to investigate the spill areas, taking water quality samples along 11km of the river.
People found to have discharged sewage face fines of up to $50,000, while companies could face a penalty of $250,000.
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