Orange Hospital sends effluent, untreated sewage into town’s water catchment

A NSW hospital is facing scrutiny over a pollution spill that sent untreated sewage into the drinking catchment of a major regional NSW town.

The hospital has been investigated over the sewage spill.

A NSW hospital is facing scrutiny over a pollution spill that sent untreated sewage into the drinking catchment of a major regional NSW town.

The Orange Health Service hospital precinct has been inspected by investigators from the NSW Environment Protection Authority in response to sewage – including effluent – that spilled from the site into water catchment of Orange.

Investigators inspected the hospital precinct a day after being notified of the spill where sewage was identified discharging from pipes at two separate areas of the precinct.

Investigators followed the flow of sewage to Gosling Creek, which forms part of the local drinking water catchment.

A spokesman for Orange Council, which has been made aware of the incident, said “at this stage the water supply appears not to have been affected” as testing in the area continues.

A photo of the Orange Health Service precinct.

In response to the incident, the EPA has ordered NSW Health to take immediate clean-up actions including removing impacted soil from affected areas.

The order further requires NSW Health to dispose of this sewage and soil material at a facility and to disinfect impacted areas of the hospital.

Orange Council said council staff had also been undertaking testing along the creek near the spill, further downstream and in Spring Creek Dam.

It is understood one discharge site was being pumped out by plumbers who had been engaged by maintenance staff at the hospital.

EPA inspectors are investigating the incident.

“While this is a spill from within the NSW Health sewer network ... any pollution incident is of concern to Orange City Council,” a council spokesman said.

“Council has already provided assistance to NSW Health to ensure the incident was contained as soon as council was notified.”

Western NSW Local Health District in a statement said it has worked to manage the sewage overflow incident.

“The cause of the incident was identified as a major blockage within the sewage system due to the flushing of inappropriate material,” a spokesman said.

“Preventative measures to stop further overflows were immediately implemented.

“While the affected area was not in close proximity to any buildings or hospital staff and patient areas, the surrounding area was barricaded and closed to ensure the health and safety of staff and the community.

“Remaining (rectification) work involving further removal of impacted soil and material, and sanitisation of the impacted area is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. WNSWLHD continues to monitor the area to ensure mitigation measures have been effective.”

Orange Health Service consists of Orange Hospital, with an emergency department and inpatient beds, as well as community health services.