A TASKFORCE is collecting floodwater samples from impacted regions.
The Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES), Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and Natural Hazards Research Australia (NHRA) were aiming to find out if there were any contamination issues from the continuing flood emergency.
This was so the level of risk to human health and the environment could be understood.
The effort began on October 31 and the EPA have prioritised testing these samples for bacteria, including E. coli, and trace elements of metals and contaminants such as pesticides.
VICSES chief officer of operations Tim Wiebusch said the findings would be crucial in understanding if emergency personnel and the community were in any danger.
“The results of this study will be critical for emergency services and the EPA to inform community messaging and guidance for key impacted areas on the risks of floodwater contamination,” he said.
“We see working together with EPA and NHRA as part of this critical research vital to understanding the long-term effects floodwater may have on our volunteers, other emergency management personnel and, of course, the community.”
So far, samples from 16 sites were being tested, including the Murray River, Little Murray River and Loddon River.
Contaminated floodwater usually occurs naturally but overflowing sewerage tanks, or agricultural wastes and chemicals, can also pollute the water.
EPA chief environmental scientist professor Mark Taylor said all floodwater is treated as contaminated.
“We treat all floodwater as contaminated and this testing will give us a greater understanding of what the statewide picture looks like,” he said.
Samples will be collected twice more over the next fortnight, with the results being made available to the public soon, along with necessary health advice.
NHRA chief executive officer Andrew Gissing said the partnership between the trio of organisations is crucial to providing communities with the information they need to stay safe.
“Partnerships like this between scientists and practitioners are vital to improving knowledge for the benefit of our communities,” he said.
“This research is essential to understand the broader harms associated with floodwater and will be shared nationally to inform communities and emergency services regarding the dangers of entering floodwater.”