Sewerage on the nose

Raw sewerage leaking for four days from behind shops on Railway Terrace near the Rockingham foreshore is on the nose with local residents.

Picture: The leaking drain

Robert O’Donnell said he discovered the leak on December 4 and reported it to the Water Corporation, which said it would send someone to inspect the problem.

‘‘I felt quite sick seeing it, especially knowing all those people were swimming at the beachfront,’’ he said.

‘‘After reporting it (the leakage) it appeared to stop so I assumed it was fixed.’’

When it started leaking again the following day, Mr O’Donnell again called the Water Corporation, which told him it was an internal plumbing problem and there was nothing it could do about it.

Water Corporation spokeswoman Clare Lugar confirmed building owners were responsible for their premises’ plumbing.

‘‘They are responsible for the pipework and waste water from their property to the point where it connects to our wastewater main,’’ she said.

‘‘If a leak occurs on the owner’s pipework they must hire a licensed plumber to carry out the repairs.

‘‘Once wastewater enters our system it is our responsibility.’’

Ms Lugar said ongoing raw sewerage problems were the responsibility of local government as a health-related issue.

‘‘In this case the City of Rockingham was made aware of the leak andweunderstand ithasnow been repaired by a plumber,’’ she said.

Rockingham Mayor Barry Sammels said the council acted immediately on the complaint.

‘‘The city’s health services received a complaint about the overflowing drain at 10am on January 4 and we sent two environmental health officers to inspect it,’’ he said.

‘‘We contacted the managing agent and the managing agent’s nominated plumber to get it fixed.’’

He said discharging raw sewerage into a stormwater drain was an offence.