Engineers are set to continue investigations into a leak at a Victorian dam that forced dozens of people out of their homes.
More than 100 evacuees on Oct. 4 returned to their homes after Victorian emergency services declared the incident under control.
They were forced to spend two nights away from home after leaks were identified at the 180-megalitre private dam in Torquay, near Geelong.
Authorities used high transfer pumps to lower the water level and reduce pressure on the dam walls.
Engineers are continuing to investigate the leak after Victoria’s State Emergency Service gave the all-clear for the 109 affected residents to return home.
“Water will continue to be pumped from the dam at a reduced rate and pumping will continue to be monitored overnight,” the SES said on Oct. 4.
“Once the dam has reached the reduced level, dam safety engineers and technical advisers will complete a more detailed assessment tomorrow.”
Volunteers knocked on doors at more than 40 homes about 1.30 a.m. on Oct. 3, telling people to leave.
Affected residents were later told at a community meeting that six pumps were being used to reduce the water in the dam by about two metres to ground level—about 60 megalitres worth.
The water is being spread across nearby farmland but some is expected to enter adjacent wetlands.
