North East Water

EPA Victoria has fined North East Water after activated carbon and sediment was discharged into Wodonga's Jack in the Box and Wodonga creeks.

EPA North East Region acting manager David Whitehouse said the $5671 fine followed an investigation into reports of a black sludge-like material in the creeks on November 11.

"Our investigation found that in excess of 1.4 megalitres of water containing activated carbon and sediment escaped into the creeks after a raw water storage was cleaned," Mr Whitehouse said.

"North East Water uses activated carbon in the treatment and purification of drinking water to remove taste and odour. The discharged material offered no threat to public health but it did necessitate a significant clean-up operation that included flushing the creek with fresh water."

In deciding to issue the fine, EPA took into account North East Water's prompt clean up action and the new measures it has put into place to prevent a similar event occurring in the future.

EPA expects no lasting environmental damage to result from the incident.

North East Water Operations Manager Fiona Smith said the Corporation had initiated long-term remedial actions at the site, in consultation with the North East Catchment Management Authority.

"Our rehabilitation works will involve the restoration and revegetation of degraded and eroded areas that occurred as a result of the initial clean-up actions," she said.

"On-ground works are scheduled to begin by February, and it will be an ongoing project that will continue until the creeks are fully restored."

Ms Smith said North East Water regretted the incident and had put in place procedural improvements and developed an internal education campaign to prevent similar incidents in the future.