Many different types of material are hazardous to our waterways.
How you can help keep our waterways clean
- Wash your vehicle on the grass or take it to an environment-friendly car wash at a service station. This will reduce the amount of runoff and water your lawn at the same time.
- When using water-based paint, clean up over soil or grass.
- When using oil-based paint keep paints, turps and solvents clear of gutters and drains.
- Reuse turps once paint has settled. Allow unused paint to dry out and then put in the bin.
- Sweep your driveway regularly rather than hosing the rubbish away (this includes leaves and grass clippings). Soak up spills with kitty litter, sawdust, or dirt and put it in the rubbish.
- Don't hose household cleaners, concrete cleaning or any other chemicals down the stormwater drain.
- Dispose of excess paint and chemicals in the hazardous waste area at landfills.
- Regularly service your car. This stops leaking oil getting into the stormwater system. It only takes one litre of oil to contaminate a thousand tonnes of water.
- Empty your pool or spa into the sewer.