Orange sludge spotted in creeks in parts of the Goulburn Broken region is a natural phenomenon and not cause for concern.
“We recently received a report of orange sludge in a tributary of the King Parrot Creek near Flowerdale,” Goulburn Broken CMA’s Christine Glassford said.
“When inspecting the site, I noted the scent of iron which helped verify it was due to natural, iron-oxidizing bacteria and was not a threat to aquatic wildlife, such as native fish.”
The bacteria grow by feeding on oxidized iron that naturally occurs in the soil. The oxidized iron gives the bacteria a rusty colour and sometimes a metallic odour. It is more likely to occur in slow moving water.
“The water remains clear as the sludge settles out” Ms Glassford said.
“As it’s a natural bloom response, there is no need for people to be alarmed – as soon as we get a decent drop of rain it will wash away.
“We’ll keep an eye on the creek and appreciate the community letting us know about changes in their local waterways.”