Decomposed Kangaroo Found in Water Tank: A Wake-Up Call for Homeowners

A decomposed kangaroo inside a resident’s rainwater tank shocked the Gympie-based water tank cleaning company. What began as a routine inspection in the Glass House Mountains region ended with an unexpected discovery.



A Shocking Discovery: Decomposed Kangaroo in the Tank

Reece Gendron, owner of Pristine Water Systems, arrived for a standard inspection. What should have been a simple check quickly became something much more troubling. Gendron and his team discovered the decomposed remains of a kangaroo inside the tank.

Decomposed kangaroo
Photo Credit: Pristine Water Systems/Facebook

The tank sat level with the grass and had been covered by a tile held in place by a brick. Gendron believes the kangaroo may have stepped on the unsecured cover, causing it to fall inside and become trapped.

“The poor animal had been there long enough for bones and decomposing flesh to remain, and let us tell you—it was not a pleasant sight,” he said.

Decomposed Kangaroo: An Extreme Case

While this decomposed kangaroo is an extreme case, Gendron regularly finds animals in water tanks. He often encounters possums and pythons, but this particular discovery caught him off guard.

Despite the disturbing find, Gendron reassured the public that decomposed animals in tanks don’t always pose a direct health risk. He said that pythons actually worsen the water quality but faeces sitting at the bottom of a tank causes illness. 

Decomposed kangaroo
Photo Credit: Pristine Water Systems/Facebook

The discovery underscores the importance of regular tank inspections. Gendron advises homeowners to check their tanks every one to two years and perform a thorough clean every three to five years, depending on the tank’s location and exposure to contaminants.

Similar Incidents on the Rise

The discovery of the decomposed kangaroo isn’t an isolated case. Other homeowners have shared similar stories, pointing out that this issue is becoming more common. 

Decomposed kangaroo
Photo Credit: Pristine Water Systems/Facebook

A resident named Lee from Victoria’s South Gippsland area found a possum they removed from their water tank, as per the company’s Facebook post

“Possums are far more common than Roo’s. And as they can’t cling onto anything (unlike frogs), quickly succumb to being trapped.”



The Bottom Line: Secure Your Water Tanks

For anyone relying on rainwater, this incident serves as a reminder: tank maintenance isn’t just about clean water. It’s about securing your tank and making sure nothing unexpected gets inside. 

Regularly checking and properly securing tank covers can make all the difference in keeping your water safe to drink.

Pristine Water Systems has urged locals to take action, posting online, “If you haven’t had your tank cleaned in a while, now’s the time to call in the pros.” 

Published 4-Feb-2025