A HEALTH warning for treated industrial waste water has been lifted along a stretch of the Campaspe River from Kyneton to Lake Eppalock.
Victoria's Environment Protection Authority issued the warning in June, when Coliban Water began releasing up to four megalitres of "C Class water" into the Campaspe a day.
The discharge meant water north of Kyneton was unsafe for domestic and stock use and was needed to stop storage lagoons at Kyneton overflowing and then failing, Coliban Water's David Sheehan said in June.
In April Coliban Water told the Bendigo Advertiser it had no plans to discharge treated water straight into the Campaspe River in 2019.
Mr Sheehan said Coliban Water had expected higher streamflows, which would allow it to discharge Class B water, and move Class C water around on site.
The latest water flow and quality data from Coliban Water showed the river had enjoyed consistently good flows in July, EPA Compliance and Enforcement Team Leader Paul Ratajczyk said.
"Those good flows mean Coliban Water can meet their EPA discharge licence requirements for water quality, and consequently we have advised Coliban Water to lift the health warnings along the river," he said.
"Coliban Water and EPA will continue to monitor the discharge and river flows, to ensure the water quality continues to comply with Coliban's licence," he said.
The EPA will also issue Coliban Water with legal notices that require it to undertake works to prevent any further non-compliant discharges of treated water into the river.
"EPA recognises that the water quality issues that led to the official warnings have been a cause of concern for the community along the Campaspe River. Coliban Water and EPA will actively engage with the local community and keep the public informed of any possible future quality issues and actions.
"While it is good news that the warnings have been lifted, and water from the Campaspe River is once again suited to normal uses for river water, EPA reminds the community that untreated river water in any river system is never recommended for drinking."
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