Stormwater flooded the sewerage network

“As huge volumes of rain fell across the city, stormwater flooded the sewerage network, resulting in poo washing out into backyards, and in some cases, toilets backing up and overflowing inside residents’ houses. Sewer covers popped off, leaving gaping holes hidden underneath shallow floodwaters or river mud. The sudden release of so much faecal matter onto the streets and into the waterway was not only a significant public health concern, but also an environmental catastrophe, contributing to dramatic spikes in bacterial blooms in local creeks and the river.”

Jonathan Sriranganathan (2022) Flood Inquiry Submission

Image: Greenslopes stormwater channel, February 2022. Credit: mattydd18