Did you know that streetside gutters almost always drain into local rivers and creeks? That is why it is important to think carefully about what goes into our stormwater drains!
What is stormwater?
Large storms bring a lot of rain, and while some of the rainwater seeps into the ground, some of the water flows over the surface of the ground. This is stormwater!
What causes stormwater pollution?
The main types of stormwater pollution are:
- litter, such as cigarette butts, cans, paper or plastic bags
- chemical pollution, such as detergents, oil or fertilisers
- 'natural' pollution, such as leaves, garden clippings or animal droppings
- sediment pollution, such as soil erosion and runoff from building sites and unsealed roads.
Activities at home that may cause stormwater pollution include:
car washing on the street: using detergent and allowing it to run down the street drain.
fixing your car on the street: letting oil or other substances flow into the street drain
disposing of garden waste: letting leaves or garden clippings accumulate in gutters or driveways where they can end up in the street drain.
dropping litter: dropping litter where it will be swept into the street drains next time it rains.
cleaning paint brushes: letting the contaminated water flow into the street drain.
hosing the footpath: letting the water carry dirt, soil or other waste into the street drains
Work activities that may cause stormwater pollution include:
restaurants: not cleaning out the grease trap regularly
motor vehicle repairers or printers: letting oil, chemicals or other waste flow into the street drain
builders: not shielding street drains from spilt chemicals or excess soil, sand, gravel or other building waste
all work places: letting cigarette butts or litter fall into gutters or on driveways; letting chemicals, detergents or other harmful fluids run into street drains.
Sewage and stormwater do not mix:
(Image taken from: www.stormwater.org.au)
If wastewater overflows from sewer pipes or septic tanks it can find its way into our stormwater drains and eventually into our creeks, rivers, wetlands and the sea. Unlike sewage, stormwater is not treated. The sewerage system and the stormwater drain in your street are two separate systems, and household wastewater belongs with the sewage! A leak in your private sewer pipe or septic tank won’t go unnoticed for long!
Why should I be concerned about stormwater pollution?
Because anything that is flushed down a stormwater drain is rarely filtered before it reaches a stream or river. This means that oil, paint, grass clippings, household waste, pet waste, or any other waste on streets and sidewalks goes directly into a nearby stream, river, or lake.
When the pollutants in stormwater are carried to our creeks and rivers, they create problems for the plants and animals living in these waterways. This includes spreading of noxious plans and weeds as well as contaminants.
It also increases drainage maintenance bills by having to constantly clean out blocked drains that cause damage to surrounding property.
What can I do?
Click on the following links:
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