Secondary : Stormwater

Stormwater

Stormwater and Drainage - What Goes Around Comes Around

For the most comprehensive information about Stormwater, please visit the Drainage and Stormwater section of the main Melbourne Water website.

What is Stormwater?

Rainfall which runs off roofs and roads and other surfaces and flows into gutters, streams and rivers and creeks where it eventually flows into the bays. This water can carry with it all sorts of contaminants. Some are obvious such as plastic bags or detergents from people washing their cars, others are not so obvious such as nutrients and heavy metals.

How can we keep the rivers and creeks clean?

Eight tips to prevent stormwater pollution.

  1. Bin it securely.
    Make sure litter cannot blow or fall out of bins or recycling containers.
  2. Dog droppings.
    Dog droppings that wash into stormwater drains and rivers and creeks may impact on water quality. Use a dog scoop bag or put the droppings in your garden.
  3. Grass clippings and leaves.
    Help keep street gutters and drain entrances clear of leaves by starting a compost heap or using leaves as garden mulch. Debris can block drains and cause local flooding. Rotting organic matter can pollute rivers and creeks with excess nutrients.
  4. Painting clean-up.
    For water-based paints, paint out brushes on scrap material and rinse into the garden. For oil-based paints, use a recommended paint solvent to rinse or soak brushes. Store excess solvent and paint for disposal via your local Household Chemical Collection program.
  5. Washing the car.
    Wash your car on a grassed area so soapy water does not flow into the gutter and end up in a local river or creek. Increased nutrients from detergents can contaminate our rivers and creeks.
  6. Motor oil.
    One litre of oil can contaminate one million litres of water. Don't pour oil into the gutter. Many councils have drop-off centres which will take leftover oil. Keep your vehicle maintained so it does not leak oil or petrol.
  7. Fertiliser and pesticides.
    Avoid applying fertiliser and pesticides in areas where they could wash into drains, particularly when storms are predicted.
  8. Landscaping and construction.
    Make sure soil and sand stockpiles are not covering street gutters. Protect stockpiles from wind and rain by storing under secured plastic sheeting or tarpaulins. Schedule grading and excavation projects during dry weather.

What does Melbourne Water do?

Melbourne Water is responsible for regional drainage, flood protection and rivers and creeks management. This also involves the protection and improvement of the water quality throughout the Port Phillip and Westernport region, which includes 8000 kilometres of rivers and creeks, 1277 kilometres of drainage and 99 wetlands.

Local councils manage 25000 kilometres of local drains, road networks, street and property drainage, which feed into the regional drains and rivers and creeks.

What Do Wetlands Do?

Wetlands are areas of land that contain pools of shallow water. Wetlands not only look good but also provide a habitat for native wildlife as well as a potential source of reusable water. There may also be the potential for sporting and recreational facilities, and agriculture and aquaculture farming around wetlands. Wetlands clean the stormwater that runs into them by catching any nasties that are caught up in the water.

Melbourne Water invests about $5.6 million a year building and designing wetlands and other water quality treatment facilities, Melbourne Water currently have three wetlands under construction. They are in Cheltenham, Mt. Waverley, and Glenroy.

View more information about wetlands in your area.

Useful Teacher Resources

A list of useful teacher resources can be found under Educational Resources.