Stormwater
What is urban stormwater?
Stormwater is pure rainwater plus anything the rain carries along with it. In urban areas, rain that falls on the roof of your house, or collects on paved areas like driveways, roads and footpaths is carried away through a system of pipes that is separate from the sewerage system. Unlike sewage, stormwater is not normally treated. In some cases it's filtered through stormwater treatment measures, usually located at the end of the pipe system, but it still flows directly from streets and gutters into our rivers, the harbour and the ocean. Straight from your street to waterways inhabited by fish, frogs and other aquatic animals and plants.
If you live near a waterway or often spend time in or near the water you are probably familiar with what happens after rain. Polluted stormwater spreading out into the surrounding clean water can be clearly seen because it's a muddy colour, and often carries litter with it. You may be advised not to swim for a couple of days, because the pollution carried along with the rainwater may pose a significant health risk.
Stormwater pollution can be controlled if everyone plays a part in managing the drains in the streets where they live and work. In other words, if you look after your local drains, you can dramatically improve what happens in the harbours, on the beaches and in the rivers. The most effective way to reduce stormwater pollution is to stop it entering the system in the first place.
Do you know where the water goes?
What happens to the water that runs off your roof?
What happens to the water that runs off your driveway, or escapes from garden beds?
Where does the water go when it goes down the drain?
Click the image for a larger view
Managing urban stormwater: harvesting and reuse
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Managing urban stormwater: harvesting and reuse presents an overview of stormwater harvesting and its potential benefits and limitations. It also provides guidance on the planning and design aspects of stormwater harvesting projects, taking into account statutory and regulatory requirements.
- Download pages 1-72 managestormwaterA06137.pdf (937kb)
- Download case studies: pages 73-156 managestormwaterB06137.pdf (921kb)
A resource guide for local councils: Erosion and sediment control
The purpose of A resource guide for local councils: Erosion and Sediment control is to look at how local councils can develop, adopt and maintain a consistent and rigorous approach to erosion and sediment control across their areas of operations. It is not a 'how to' guide, but rather a collection of recommendations and resources that can be used by council officers who are striving to develop an integrated and effective approach to erosion and sediment control.
- Download erosionsediment0642.pdf (934kb)
- Download the checklists in word format 0642erosionsedimentchecklist.doc (114kb)
A resource guide for local councils: environmental management of council operations
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Councils are responsible for providing and maintaining a range of public services. This resource guide aims to support councils in developing their environmental management capacity, to reduce any incidental environmental impacts from their operations.
All files for download are Acrobat pdf files and require acrobat reader
- Download the entire document 07441swcouncilops.pdf (1.3 mb), or:
- Download the overview and chapter 1 07441swcouncilopspt1.pdf (267 kb)
- Download chapters 2 to 4 07441swcouncilopspt2.pdf (337 kb)
- Download chapter 5 (the case studies) 07441swcouncilopspt3.pdf (189 kb)
- Download the appendices 07441swcouncilopsapps.pdf (455 kb)
Urban Stormwater Education
Summary Evaluation Report - The Drain is Just for Rain - This document provides a summary of the extent to which the Urban Stormwater Education Program, conducted between 1999–2004, worked, and what was learnt from it. It is intended to help others who have responsibility for the delivery of education for sustainability (drain04111.pdf 146 kb). |
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Environmental management on the urban fringe
Economic incentives for environmental management - Poor environmental management, particularly on properties located within the urban rural fringe has long been the concern of local councils and state agencies in New South Wales and indeed throughout Australia. This guide has been prepared to assist councils considering the introduction of incentive schemes for rural property owners (ecoincentives04109.pdf 868 kb). |
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| Horse properties on the rural urban fringe - A best practice environmental guide for keeping horses. This guide provides practical advice on how to protect and improve the natural environment on and around horse properties and gives practical advice on caring for horses. It provides insight into land and water management issues commonly encountered on properties where horses are kept and techniques for minimising the environmental impact of these properties (horse0489.pdf 809 kb). |
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Property management plan - A template or framework for environmental management designed to assist property or business owners to develop a plan without in-depth knowledge of natural resource management or environmental protection and enhancement. The template draws on a wide range of related publications and the resources. Information provided in the management plan and references at the end of this guide provide valuable assistance in the preparation of a property management plan (plan04108.pdf 940 kb). |
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Environmental assessment - Land use on the urban rural fringe is very diverse and continues to change over time. Similarly, the range in lot sizes within rural areas is diverse with land use activities ranging from poultry and intensive horticulture to rural residential properties and hobby farms. This audit guidebook and protocol for rural businesses and rural residential properties provides guidance to council officers and environmental professionals in NSW in conducting environmental assessments on rural properties and/or business operations and provides information on what a council officer should look for when carrying out an assessment (enviroassess04107.pdf 870 kb). |
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