Sewage smell reported south of Mandurah after mains overflowed

RESIDENTS reported a strong sewage smell after a broken main caused wastewater to overflow in Dawesville on Sunday.

One resident claimed his utility was caked in the sewage and it stunk “to high heaven to say the least.”

Water Corporation Perth regional manager Garth Walter said a member of the public made a report about the spillage at 10am.

He said the wastewater overflow was adjacent to Old Coast Road, south of the Dawesville Bridge in Dawesville.

“We estimate that approximately 20 kilolitres of wastewater overflowed from the broken main,” he said.

“Wastewater is 99.97 per cent water, as it comes mostly from showers, baths and washing machines.”

Mr Walter said a Water Corporation crew responded immediately and were able to stop the overflow by 3.25pm.

A lane of Old Coast Road was closed until Sunday evening.

“The lane was closed to allow our crews to safely repair the wastewater main and clean the site,” Mr Walter said.

“The Water Corporation apologises for any inconvenience this may have caused.”

Mr Walter said tankers were deployed to the site to remove the wastewater.

“The area around the overflow was thoroughly cleaned by Sunday evening,” he said.

“The wastewater flowed across Old Coast Road into a council drainage gully and remained in the drain.

“It did not enter the Dawesville Cut.”

Mr Walter said the overflow was caused by a break on the wastewater main.

“This is the first fault to occur on this section of the main, and the cause is not yet known,” he said.