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January 19, 2006
Waste and toxic materials in Melbourne's iconic Yarra River have been a source of concern since the 19th century, when the river had been treated as an industrial drain and rubbish dump:
River Yarra circa 1968
The quality of the Yarra River has improved greatly since then, due to a major sewerage expansion program, the removal of septic tanks and the diversion of all industrial waste into the sewerage system.
Today the stormwater from the drainage systems of each of the urban council areas finishes up in the Yarra.it is not safe to swim in because of high bacteria levels that made it unsafe for swiming, rowing and kayaking. There are still thousands of households in outer eastern Melbourne adjacent to the Yarra River and its feeder creeks including Warrandyte, Park Orchards and Donvale still totally reliant on septic tanks discharging into backyards. Human faeces is a significant pollutant in the river.
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