Sewage process scrutiny

Four million litres of untreated black water escaped from the plant into the Mary River.

WIDE Bay Water has been urged to fast-track change at the Aubinville wastewater treatment plant after a massive spill of raw sewage into the Mary River.

Four million litres of untreated black water escaped from the plant into the river on Wednesday and Thursday after a rat chewed through a cable and disarmed primary pumping systems.

Back-up systems and alarms also failed causing all sewage generated in Maryborough and surrounds during a 24-hour period to discharge into the waterway.

Co-ordinator of the Wide Bay Burnett Environment Council Emma-Kate Currie said WBW must invest in the plant to safeguard the environment.

"It is time for WBW to do things like advance the water re-use project to ensure there is no uncontrolled discharge of raw sewage into the river," Ms Currie said.

The re-use program would mirror the Hervey Bay scheme which diverted treated wastewater for use in agriculture.

A WBW representative said the reuse infrastructure would not have prevented this week's spill.

"It occurred at the inlet to the plant and potential changes to the re-use system would not have averted the discharge," the representative said.

WBW said initial tests revealed little difference between water quality upstream and downstream of the plant. The company planned to eventually re-use 70% of Maryborough's wastewater.

Concerns the sewage spill could affect the River Heads Barra and Salmon Fishing Classic, which runs today and tomorrow, were dismissed by organisers.

"I don't think it will affect us. It will take a few days to flow downstream, particularly with the big tides we have at the moment," club president Bert Flierman said.