FAQs

What is stormwater?

Any rain that falls on the roof of your house or collects on paved areas like driveways, roads and footpaths is called stormwater. This water is carried away in a system of pipes that are separate from the sewerage system. This water eventually ends up in our rivers and the ocean.

Why is stormwater pollution an issue?

What are the factors affecting stormwater pollution?

The amount of stormwater runoff produced and pollution levels are affected by:

• when it last rained
• intensity of the rain
• building density and other land uses in the catchment
• level of vegetation cover
• the cleanliness of the streets
• local practices such as street sweeping, pet control and excessive garden watering.

What is the effect of stormwater pollution?

The effects of stormwater pollution include killing plants and animals that live in the water. For example;

• sediment in the water reduces light penetration and affects photosynthesis, the process that allows plants to use light as their source of energy
• organic material (green waste) uses up vital oxygen in the water
• litter clogs waterways and causes toxicity from the breakdown of material and has an effect on the health of birds, fish and other animals and plants that live in the waterways.

What is being done to stop stormwater pollution?

In 1997, the State Government committed $60 million over three years to tackle stormwater pollution. Most of that money goes to fund local projects, including the building of pollution trapping devices. These traps catch pollution before it has a chance to enter the waterways. The traps are emptied regularly, and the content carried away to landfill. Pollution traps include:

• oil and litter booms
• gross pollutant traps
• artificial wetlands
• trash racks, and
• sediment traps.

In addition to the pollution control devices, many Councils are undertaking education campaigns with schools, industry and the community to reduce stormwater pollution. Education creates awareness and empowers individuals to be more responsible and active in working to achieve the goals of reducing stormwater pollution.

How can I help reduce stormwater pollution?

Some people are quick to complain about water pollution, especially when it affects their favourite river, lake or beach. They don't realise that they may be contributing to this pollution when they tip harmful materials down the drain or carelessly drop litter on the road.

All of our activities have an impact on the environment. This might simply be dropping a cigarette butt from the car, sweeping dirt off the driveway or washing the car in the street. They all have an impact on our waterways and the plants and animals that live there.

There are simple things we all can do to reduce pollution in our local waterways. The following list will help you get started.

Isn't it Council's responsibility?

Council is responsible for controlling and maintaining stormwater systems. However, it is everyone's responsibility to reduce the amount of rubbish and pollution that is carried into our creeks and rivers by the stormwater. Local Councils (and their ratepayers) have to foot the bill for clearing out debris from pollution traps.

What are the main pollutants?

Stormwater pollution may be divided into three categories

• natural – organic material such as leaves, grass clippings and soil sediment
• chemical – such as detergents, fertilisers, oil and greases and;
• litter – such as plastic bags, drink containers, wrappers, cigarette butts.

Why can't I put my green waste down the drain?

Green waste, such as leaves and grass clippings, decays and burns up the oxygen in the water. This can smother plants and animals in the water.

How much pollution is produced annually?

Pollution traps will catch more than 1000 tonnes of rubbish this year before it enters our waterways. In other words, that's 100 large truck loads of rubbish that will not reach our rivers, beaches and oceans.

But pollution traps are only one part of the equation. People need to stop pollution getting into the drain in the first place.

Aren't businesses bigger polluters than residents?

Both industry and the community have an important role to play in helping to reduce stormwater pollution. Strict pollution controls on industry have helped reduce their impact on the environment in recent years

The State Government's stormwater program is working with selected industries whose products have a detrimental impact on the environment when improperly used by consumers. The campaign will show these industries how to do the right thing.

The reality is that we all have an impact on stormwater quality, and we can all take steps to make a difference.

What incentives are there for people to adhere to the messages of this campaign?

If we stop pollutants entering our gutters and drains in the first place, we can help keep our waterways clean and healthy. That way, they will provide a better environment for our native plants and animals and provide places of recreation and enjoyment. Maintaining our lifestyle, which includes using the waterways, is a significant incentive for most people.

What is The Drain is Just for Rain campaign doing to address stormwater pollution?

In 1997, the NSW Government committed $60 million over three years to tackle urban stormwater pollution. A vital part of the program is the community education campaign.

The campaign aims to stop people putting rubbish and pollution down the drains in the first place. It is achieving this by:

• a mass media campaign consisting of television commercials in metropolitan and regional centres, outdoor advertisements at prominent Sydney and suburban locations, a mobile billboard and a series of community service announcements featuring prominent Australian's such as Sara Henderson, Wayne Gardner, Mike Whitney, Don Burke, Slim Dusty and others
• outdoor advertisements in Sydney Newcastle and Wollongong focused on four major stormwater pollutants: cigarette butts, car washing, painting and grass clippings and leaves. The advertisements showed the impact of our behaviour on stormwater
• a mobile billboard also toured the most built-up parts of Sydney for two weeks as part of this campaign
• industry education and training projects: This part of the campaign has a special focus on selected industries whose products, when improperly used by consumers, have a detrimental impact on the environment. The campaign will show these industries how to do the right thing
• innovative community education projects: As part of the NSW Government's three-year $60 million program, Councils are funded to find local solutions to stormwater pollution. Councils use a mix of community education and pollution traps to make a real difference to stormwater quality. To date, more than 140 local projects have been funded right across the state. About one quarter of these projects are working to educate the community about ways of preventing stormwater pollution.

In January 2000, the Environment Minister, Bob Debus, announced $20 million in funding for the next round of stormwater grants. Councils are being encouraged to apply for these grants, and more local projects will have a focus on community education this year.