Is your water tank safe? Aussie homeowners urged to check after shocking discovery
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What was thought to be a routine task for Aussie homeowners has turned into a chilling reminder of the unexpected risks lurking in your own backyard.
An unusual discovery in a local water tank has left experts questioning the safety of private water supplies.
The details are both startling and important, as this incident shines a light on the hidden dangers that could be closer than you think.
A routine water tank cleaning on the NSW Central Coast this week took a bizarre turn, as tank cleaners uncovered a decomposed kangaroo in one homeowner's water supply.
The discovery came as a shock, with the team admitting it was an ‘unbelievable’ find that highlighted the serious health risks of neglecting regular tank checks.
‘We never thought we’d encounter this during a routine water tank cleaning…but today, our team found a decomposed kangaroo inside the tank,’ the team shared.
The carcass had been in the tank long enough for the flesh to rot and bones to remain, with the team describing the sight as ‘not pleasant.’
Pictures from the scene showed the decomposing animal in the tank, with the owners seemingly unaware of the contamination.
Glen Gillingham, who runs Pristine Water Systems, told Yahoo News Australia that his team had encountered similar incidents before.
He explained that just over 12 months ago, his team had found a deceased kangaroo in a 150,000-litre tank.
Glen warned of the serious health risks posed by rotting carcasses in water tanks, saying, ‘All the bacteria and everything else that goes along with a rotting carcass…You wouldn’t normally go out and drink water that has gone through a rotting carcass.’
Images taken after the removal of the carcass showed the grim state of the water inside the tank, which Glen said made the water ‘horrible.’
To address such situations, Glen’s team typically drains and cleans the tank thoroughly, as there’s little else to be done.
In the earlier incident, the tank lid had rusted and weakened, likely causing the kangaroo to fall into the tank and perish.
While such discoveries are rare, Glen noted that more common cases involve snakes entering the tanks.
He explained that snakes could get in through pipes while chasing smaller animals like mice or frogs, but once inside, they are unable to escape.
‘I’ve pulled a few pythons out of tanks–they’ve all been dead. That’s just as bad as a kangaroo,’ Glen added.
He recalled removing a 3.5-metre python from a family’s water tank, emphasising the severity of the health risks.
Glen urged homeowners to regularly inspect their tanks to avoid contamination from dead animals, whether they’re kangaroos or snakes, to keep their water supply safe.
Have you ever had a strange discovery in your own backyard? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below.
What was thought to be a routine task for Aussie homeowners has turned into a chilling reminder of the unexpected risks lurking in your own backyard.
An unusual discovery in a local water tank has left experts questioning the safety of private water supplies.
The details are both startling and important, as this incident shines a light on the hidden dangers that could be closer than you think.
A routine water tank cleaning on the NSW Central Coast this week took a bizarre turn, as tank cleaners uncovered a decomposed kangaroo in one homeowner's water supply.
The discovery came as a shock, with the team admitting it was an ‘unbelievable’ find that highlighted the serious health risks of neglecting regular tank checks.
‘We never thought we’d encounter this during a routine water tank cleaning…but today, our team found a decomposed kangaroo inside the tank,’ the team shared.
Shocking discovery of decomposed kangaroo in a water tank. Image source: Facebook/PristineWaterSystems
The carcass had been in the tank long enough for the flesh to rot and bones to remain, with the team describing the sight as ‘not pleasant.’
Pictures from the scene showed the decomposing animal in the tank, with the owners seemingly unaware of the contamination.
Glen Gillingham, who runs Pristine Water Systems, told Yahoo News Australia that his team had encountered similar incidents before.
He explained that just over 12 months ago, his team had found a deceased kangaroo in a 150,000-litre tank.
Glen warned of the serious health risks posed by rotting carcasses in water tanks, saying, ‘All the bacteria and everything else that goes along with a rotting carcass…You wouldn’t normally go out and drink water that has gone through a rotting carcass.’
Images taken after the removal of the carcass showed the grim state of the water inside the tank, which Glen said made the water ‘horrible.’
To address such situations, Glen’s team typically drains and cleans the tank thoroughly, as there’s little else to be done.
In the earlier incident, the tank lid had rusted and weakened, likely causing the kangaroo to fall into the tank and perish.
While such discoveries are rare, Glen noted that more common cases involve snakes entering the tanks.
He explained that snakes could get in through pipes while chasing smaller animals like mice or frogs, but once inside, they are unable to escape.
‘I’ve pulled a few pythons out of tanks–they’ve all been dead. That’s just as bad as a kangaroo,’ Glen added.
He recalled removing a 3.5-metre python from a family’s water tank, emphasising the severity of the health risks.
Glen urged homeowners to regularly inspect their tanks to avoid contamination from dead animals, whether they’re kangaroos or snakes, to keep their water supply safe.
Have you ever had a strange discovery in your own backyard? Share your thoughts or experiences in the comments below.
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