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Page Last Updated:
Thursday, 20 September 2012
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Home>Environment>Stormwater Management
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| Stormwater Littering | | Stormwater is the combination of runoff water produced during rainfall and water from domestic and commercial use discharged onto roads and gutters.
Stormwater is untreated and discharges directly into waterways. When it rains any rubbish or pollutants left on our roads, nature strips or in gutters is washed into our stormwater drains. In Colac all this water enters the lake, in Apollo Bay it flows into the ocean. Every year approximately 5 million pieces of floating litter is washed into our waterways through stormwater drains throughout Australia.
Stormwater pollution is a significant contributor to the degradation of local waterways. Colac Otway Shire is aware of the potential damage caused by stormwater pollution and has recently developed a Stormwater Management Plan. This plan outlines how we can reduce the amount of waste and nutrients entering our waterways.
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| Some points to remember about Stormwater Pollution | | Bin it securely – Make sure litter cannot blow or fall out of bins or recycling containers
Washing the Car - By washing your car on a grassed area, you keep your local creeks and rivers clean. Increased nutrients from detergents contaminate our waterways.
Grass Clippings and Leaves – Keep your street gutters clear of leaves and grass clippings. Start a compost heap or use leaves as garden mulch. Rotting organic matter creates excess nutrients.
Painting Clean-Up – Never clean brushes or rinse paint containers into a street gutter or drain. Instead try drying out the paint on newspaper or in a old icecream container then place it in the bin.
Cigarette Butts - Place all cigarette butts in the bin. Make sure you butt them out first though!
Changing Motor Oil - It takes only one litre of oil to contaminate one million litres of water. If you do change your own, don’t pour the old oil down the street gutter.
Fertilisers and Pesticides - Avoid applying fertiliser and pesticides in areas where it could be readily washed away into drains, especially when rain is predicted.
Landscaping and Construction - Make sure soil and sand stockpile sites are not covering street gutters. Protect stockpiles from wind and rain by storing under secured plastic sheeting or tarpaulins.
Dog Droppings - Dog droppings are high in bacteria and nutrients and if close to gutters can wash into our waterways. Clean up after your dog.
For more information on Councils Stormwater Management Plan please contact us on 03 5232 9400 or send an email to inq@colacotway.vic.gov.au. Additional information on stormwater management is available from the EPA Website.
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