Victorian floods October 2022

Floodwaters carry risks such as water-borne diseases. We have created resources to help you manage the impacts of floods on human health and the environment.

If you are in immediate danger and require urgent assistance, dial 000. If you are not in immediate danger, but you require immediate relief assistance, call Emergency Recovery Victoria's hotline on 1800 560 760

Links to the latest Victorian flood information

• Current emergency incidhttps://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/ents from Emergency Recovery Victoria
• The latest flood warnings and alerts from Bureau of Meteorology
• Flood relief and recovery advhttps://www.vic.gov.au/vicemergency-relief-and-recoveryice from Emergency Recovery Victoria
• Advice on where to get help in an emergency
• The Premier's media releases on beginning Victoria's flood recovery and fees waived for flood waste(both dated 17 October 2022)

Community health advice

EPA has advice on looking after your health during and after a flood. EPA also issues water quality alerts when there is an issue impacting a waterway in Victoria.

Test results from our flood-impacted waterways

Since 20 October we have monitored the water quality of 14 waterways at 37 locations across Victoria. Testing stopped in some locations when floodwaters receded.

As of 21 December 2022, we are monitoring 24 locations. Our focus is on waterways with high recreational use.

• For more information go to our flood-impacted waterways page.

Avoid swimming in Victorian waterways and beaches after a heavy rain

EPA advises against swimming at all waterways and beaches for 48 hours after a heavy rain, and for much longer in the event of a flood. Heavy rains and floods can carry pollution and disease-causing bacteria into our waterways which increases the risk of illness to swimmers. We will update you via our water quality alerts page as soon as we have more information.

As a precautionary measure, do not swim, boat, kayak or fish in flood-impacted waters.

Avoid contact with floodwaters

There are many potential health risks associated with floodwaters. To protect your health, assume all floodwaters are contaminated. Don’t wade through floodwater, even if it is shallow, and try to avoid contact with flood water, mud and dirt.

Always wash your hands with soap and running water after contact with floodwater, or after handling anything that may have been in contact with flood-impacted water or soil.

Risk of foodborne illness from homegrown garden produce

Floodwaters can carry many things that may harm human health. If your garden has been in contact with floodwaters, your homegrown produce may not be safe to eat. While some of your fruits and vegetables may be salvageable, if you are in any doubt, you should dispose of them. To reduce your risk, see our guidance on how to avoid illness from flood-impacted garden produce

Guidance when pumping floodwaters

Assume all floodwaters may be contaminated. The risk of pumping water varies, depending on the nature and extent of any water contamination, and where the water will be deposited. Before you commence pumping, please read our guidance on how to minimise risks when pumping floodwaters

Check your septic systems for potential damage

If your property has been affected by floodwater, you should have a licensed plumber or service technician assess your septic system for safety and function. If you use a damaged system, there’s a risk that sewage could back up into your house or garden. This could cause a human health and pollution risk. Read our guide to managing flood-impacted septic systems

Overflow issues at several wastewater treatment plants

EPA is monitoring a significant number of issues related to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) overflowing across Victoria due to heavy rainfall including sewage issues. More information will be released as soon as possible.

Guidance for managing the impact of floods

• Emergency Recovery Victoria provides guidance on flood recovery and runs a flood recovery hotline on 1800 560 760
• Agriculture Victoria provides guidance on the emergency management of floods
• Department of Health provides advice on managing health hazards from floods
• WorkSafe Victoria provides guidance on managing hazardous substances in your workplace
• Environment Protection Authority (EPA) provides guidance on managing waste after a flood.
  
  

For emergency waste management information, please contact EPA on 1300 372 842

How to manage waste after a flood

EPA is supporting local government and clean up operators to ensuring the right waste goes to the right places.

• Visit our resource page on how to clean up after a flood, or check with your local council for information on appropriate clean-up and waste disposal in your area.
• Read our guide how to dispose of sandbags
• Read our factsheethow to dispose of asbestos after a flood

• Waste duties apply to all Victorians. You need to classify hazardous or high-risk waste as reportable priority waste. Requirements apply for transport and disposal of this waste.
• If you are a driver, producer or receiver of flood-affected waste, you must use our Waste Tracker app to log any flood-affected waste that is likely to contain potentially hazardous waste (known as reportable priority waste). When updating your waste record, please select the waste classification that best describes the flood-affected waste, and then in the additional information section, enter the description WLW17102022.
• You must categorise priority waste consigned for disposal. For more information, download our publication Waste disposal categories – characteristics and thresholds.
• Accredited consigners can help you classify your waste and meet your waste duties.
  

Emergency authorisation of discharges or disposal (ADD)

In an emergency, EPA can authorise discharges, emissions, storage, treatment, disposal and handling of waste. A number of emergency ADDs were issued to assist in the flood cleanup process.

Flood-related ADDs issued

• ADD DTA-00009893
  VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
  415 New Dookie Rd, Lemnos, VIC, 3631
  18/10/2022 to 15/02/2023
• ADD DTA-00009973
  GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL
  Shepparton Transfer Station
  125 Wanganui Rd, Shepparton, VIC, 3630
  18/10/2022 to 15/02/2023
• ADD DTA-00009971
  GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL
  Ardmona Transfer Station
  770 Turnbull Rd, Ardmona, VIC, 3629
  18/10/2022 to 15/02/2023
• ADD DTA-00009965
  GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL
  Landfill 205 Quarry Rd, Pine Lodge, VIC, 3631
  18/10/2022 to 15/02/2022
• ADD DTA-00009916
  GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL
  Murchison Transfer Station
  15 Cassidy Rd, Murchison, VIC, 3610
  18/10/2022 to 15/02/2022
• ADD DTA-00009976
  MITCHELL SHIRE COUNCIL
  Seymour Transfer Station
  470 Seymour-Tooborac Rd, Hilldene, VIC, 3660
  19/10/2022 to 16/02/2023
• ADD DTA-00009926
  BENALLA RURAL CITY COUNCIL
  Benalla Landfill
  96 Old Farnley Rd, Benalla, VIC, 3672
  20/10/2022 to 18/11/2022
• ADD DTA-00009927
  FUTURE RECYCLING PTY. LTD.
  Shepparton Transfer Station
  121-135 Old Dookie Rd, Shepparton, VIC, 3630
  20/10/2022 to 17/02/2023
• ADD DTA-00010047
  WESTERN COMPOSTING TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD
  165 Daldy Rd, Shepparton North, VIC, 3631
  25/10/2022 to 30/12/2022
• ADD DTA-00010030
  CENTRAL GIPPSLAND REGION WATER CORPORATION
  1950 Longford-Loch Sport Rd, Dutson, VIC, 3851
  24/10/2022 to 21/02/2023
• ADD DTA-00010111
  WANGARATTA RURAL CITY COUNCIL
  Organics Facility
  64 Byawatha Rd West, North Wangaratta, VIC, 3678
  27/10/2022 to 30/11/2022
• ADD DTA-00010123
  MOIRA SHIRE COUNCIL
  Cobram Transfer Station
  56 Pye Rd, Cobram East, VIC, 3644
  27/10/2022 to 9/12/2022
• ADD DTA-00010374
  MANINGTREE CORPORATION PTY LTD
  1203 Goornong Mayreef Road, Elmore, Vic
  24/10/2022 to 31/01/2023
• ADD DTA-00010369
  SYCLE AVALON PTY LTD
  479 EVERARD ROAD, KYABRAM
  21/10/2022 to 17/02/2023
• ADD DTA-00009482
  ILUKA RESOURCES LIMITED
  Elliots Road, Kanagulk, VIC, 3401
  11/11/2022 to 16/12/2022
• ADD DTA-00010386
  VAN SCHAIK'S BIO GRO PTY LTD
  1477 Yorkshire Road, Newbridge, VIC
  14/11/2022 to 3/07/2023
• ADD DTA-00010437
  HORSHAM RURAL CITY COUNCIL
  92 & 131 Ladlows Road, Dooen, VIC
  11/10/2022 to 1/10/2023
• ADD DTA-00010569
  Mildura Rural City Council
  690 Twentieth Street, Koorlong VIC 3501
  16/11/2022 to 31/12/2022
• ADD DTA-00010633
  Gannawarra Shire Council
  Denyer Road Landfill, Wandella, 2550
  15/11/2022 to 14/03/2023
• ADD DTA-00010632
  Gannawarra Shire Council
  12 View Street, Koondrook, VIC, 3580
  15/11/2022 to 14/03/2023
• ADD DTA-00010423
  VEOLIA ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD
  Patho Landfill
  320 Davis Road, Patho, VIC, 3564
  9/11/2022 to 9/03/2023
• ADD DTA-00010270
  FONTERRA AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
  20 Midland Hwy, Stanhope, VIC, 3623
  4/11/2022 to 4/03/2023
• ADD DTA-00010190
  Campase Shire Council
  Echuca Sale Yards, LOT 2 McKenzie Rd, Echuca, VIC, 3564
  1/11/2022 to 31/01/2023
• ADD DTA-00010711
  CAMPASPE SHIRE COUNCIL
  22 Malloy Street, Rochester, VIC 3561
  16/10/2022 to 13/02/2023
• ADD-DTA-00010510
  NORTH EAST REGION WATER CORPORATION
  Sawmill Lane, Moyhu, VIC 3732
  10/11/2022 to 10/03/2023

Flood responsibilities by organisation

Flood management is shared responsibility among agencies and including but not limited to:

• Emergency Management Victoria
• Department of Health
• Local Government
• Agriculture Victoria
• Environment Protection Authority
• Victorian Fisheries Authority
• Catchment Management Authorities
• Water corporations.

EPA's role during the flood emergency

EPA is a technical support agency. This means we provide technical and scientific information and advice to emergency and recovery services.

For more information

See our resource page on how to clean up after a flood