A concrete company that allowed highly alkaline wastewater to flow to a stormwater drain has been fined $4,070 by EPA Victoria.
Heidelberg Material Australia Pty Ltd, which has a head office in Sydney, operates a premises in Boundary St, Port Melbourne.
EPA officers saw concrete slurry being allowed to escape the premises and flow down the drain.
Officers tested the wastewater using pH test strips and confirmed its high alkalinity. Due to its corrosive nature and potential to cause environmental harm, the wastewater constitutes dangerous litter.
"The Yarra River is located just 300-metres away from their site and receives that storm water putting it at risk. Testing showed pH levels above 10," said EPA West Metropolitan Regional Manager Julia Gaitan.
Highly alkaline waters can do damage to the ecosystem. In humans it can irritate eyes and skin. It's also corrosive so will reduce the life of appliances and drain infrastructure.
"Only rainwater should go down our stormwater drains. Heidelberg Materials should have known better and hopefully the fine is a wake-up call," said Mrs Gaitan.
