Perth locals are being waned to shut their windows and stay out of the Swan River after human waste spilled from a burst water main for the second time in a month.
Water Corporation crews were repairing a burst wastewater main in the Upper Swan region east of Perth.
After encountering a technical issue, the water began to backup which caused it to overflow into the river last week.
A public health alert has advised locals to avoid water activities in the Upper Swan between Bassendean and Viveash.
Locals are also being urged to avoid outdoor exercise in areas which are affected by the smell of sewage.
‘Stay away from all affected water in the area,’ the public health alert read.
‘Temporary odour may be experienced in the vicinity of the affected area.
‘To minimise odours, please keep windows closed and consider using fans or air purifiers if needed.’
A public health alert has advised locals to avoid water activities in the Upper Swan between Bassendean and Viveash and urged residents to avoid outdoor exercise (pictured, affected area of the Swan River)
It comes after a massive sewage leak left several suburbs smelling ‘like a toilet’ when human waste entered the major river system in June.
The spill occurred after a sewer main burst on Hamilton Road in Spearwood, south Perth.
The leak made its way into the Swan River, spreading the stench to Beaconsfield, Alfred Cove, Applecross and South Fremantle.
Spearwood Park was left inundated by the putrid sludge while the Fremantle commercial and recreational fishing harbour was also affected.
Photos shared to social media showed suburban streets covered in inches of waste water as council workers cornered off the areas.
Another picture showed the deluge of human waste had overflowed and spilled into Spearwood Park, covering the field in a massive puddle of sewage.
Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti said a second spill was ‘clearly unacceptable’ and that the government would work with Water Corporation to prevent future incidents.
‘This is not something that we want to see, or is acceptable,’ Ms Saffioti said.
It comes after a sewer main burst sending a deluge of human waste across several suburbs and into the Swan River just last month (pictured, overflowed sewage in Spearwood Park)
‘We will continue to work with that agency to see what else we can do in relation to making sure we prevent these types of spillages.’
Opposition water spokesman Peter Rundall has called for an audit on the state’s wastewater infrastructure.
Mr Rundall labelled the spill as a ‘serious public health and environmental threat’, claiming locals deserved better.
‘Families and communities have been exposed to human waste, and the public is being told to stay away from one of Perth’s most iconic natural assets,’ Mr Rundall said.
‘This should be a wake-up call – the community deserves transparency on how water infrastructure is being funded and where it’s falling short.
‘Western Australians deserve better than this.’
