Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) is currently investigating a spill of trade waste into the Latrobe River.
The spill was reported to EPA by Australian Paper and consists of processing effluent.
EPA officers inspected the site this morning and found no obvious impact on the environment, although the water was discoloured.
EPA has taken samples from the river, with results expected by the end of the week.
It appears most of the spill was contained within a billabong system with an estimated 30,000 litres (30 cubic metres) flowing into the Latrobe River. The remaining liquid waste in the billabong system will be pumped back into Australian Paper’s treatment lagoons.
EPA expects substantial dilution of the waste in the river.
EPA has notified Southern Rural Water regarding the spill, and it has advised there is currently no irrigation occurring downstream of the spill, but it will be informing those that draw water for stock and domestic use.
Gippsland Water has advised it does not draw water downstream of the spill.