Floodwater is often contaminated by:
- farm waste, such as animal poo, dairy effluent or dead animals
- industrial waste, such as building materials or food waste
- wastewater, such as sewage from overflowing sewerage or septic systems
- toxic chemicals, such as fuels, fertilisers and pesticides.
Floodwater and the law
The general environmental duty applies to managing leftover floodwater and flood-affected waste. Any contaminants in floodwater may present a risk of harm to human health and the environment.
Dispose of waste after a flood the right way – for example, at a landfill licensed to accept flood-affected waste. For information about waste facilities, contact your local council.
There are legal duties that apply to depositing, transporting and receiving industrial waste. Learn more about managing waste after a flood.
In an emergency, we can issue a temporary authorisation for waste discharge or disposal. This helps people to manage waste that would usually need a permission from us.
Our role in floodwater
Flood management is a shared responsibility among government agencies. This includes us, local councils and Emergency Recovery Victoria.
We're a technical support agency. This means we provide technical and scientific information and advice to emergency and recovery services. Learn more about our role in an emergency or find out who to contact in an emergency.
We also support local government and clean-up operators to make sure waste goes to the right places.
We monitor water quality at locations across Victoria to identify and assess health risks from floodwater. The data we collect supports our daily water quality forecasts. Learn more about how we monitor the quality of the environment.
Impact of floodwater on your health
Exposure to contaminated floodwater and soil can lead to infections and illness.
Floodwater may not be safe for animals, irrigation or watering your garden.
Learn more about floodwater and your health.
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