Stormwater

Stormwater is the rainfall that runs off hard surfaces such as your roof, the road, driveway, footpath, industrial yards and even the lawn.  Stormwater pipes collect the rainfall and carry it untreated to the nearest waterway.

Stormwater and our environment

Stormwater becomes polluted because it picks up rubbish, animal faeces or other pollutants and washes them through the stormwater system then into our waterways. In both urban and rural areas stormwater runoff can contain silt, bacteria, oil and grease, heavy metals, toxic substances, litter and household wastes.

Stormwater drains don't go to sewage treatment plants.  Anything you tip or spill down your stormwater drain goes directly to our waterways.

People may think their little bit of waste won't harm the environment. But when combined with all the other "little bits" from everyone else, it contributes to high levels of pollution that pose a risk to fish, shellfish, plants, and even humans. 

How you can help protect our waterways

• Never tip oil, paint or chemicals down the stormwater drain - it takes only one litre of oil to contaminate a thousand tonnes of water.

• Take used oil to a local service station - for recycling or take it to AllBrites transfer station. 

• Always wash paint brushes in an inside sink or a gully trap.

• Pour all household liquid wastes, such as the bucket of water used to wash the floors, down a sink, toilet or gully trap.

• Don't drop litter. One burst of rain can wash plastic bags, food scraps, cigarette butts, cans and other litter into the stormwater system.

• Always pick up dog droppings - picking up droppings prevents them being washed into waterways and onto beaches.  Animal droppings contain bugs that can make you sick.

• Never connect stormwater pipes to the sewerage system.  Stormwater drains, such as the downpipe from the roof of your house, collect rain and carry runoff to the nearest stream, lake, beach or harbour. Sanitary sewers collect waste from inside buildings such as waste from sinks, toilets, and bathrooms. This waste flows through the sewer network to a sewage treatment plant. Even a small number of downpipes connected to the sewerage systems can overload the system in wet weather. When this happens, untreated sewage and industrial waste can overflow into our streams and harbours.

• Sweep, don't hose - sweep paths and gutters rather than hosing lawn clippings, leaves, dirt and general street pollution into stormwater drains.

• Wash the car at a carwash or on the lawn. Most pollutants will be absorbed and broken down in the ground. Do you really need to use chemicals to wash the car? Try using a brush and a little elbow grease instead.

If you want to know more about how to prevent stormwater pollution, or you see something we should know about, please contact us