The Romawi Landcare Group has told the Bairnsdale Advertiser that East Gippsland Water has been discharging secondary treated effluent into Forge Creek.
The effluent is reportedly being released from the Paynesville Sewage Treatment Plant into the creek which makes its way into the Newlands Arm backwater and then into the Gippsland Lakes.
Secretary of the Landcare Group, Alistair Mailer, said while the effluent has been treated, “it still contains high levels of the nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen, which can cause algal blooms in the Gippsland Lakes and is not suitable for drinking water”.
“Even cattle are not permitted to graze on land either during or immediately after irrigation with this effluent,” Mr Mailer said.
He said the discharge into Forge Creek “has apparently become necessary due to high levels in the treatment plant’s lagoons, and the ongoing wet weather preventing the usual discharge to land for irrigation of nearby farmland”.

IMAGE: Treated effluent being discharged from East Gippsland Water’s Paynesville Sewage Plant located off Forge Creek Road. (PS)