Chemicals, sediment, and garden wastes pollute our waterways and lead to lake closures – only rain should go down the stormwater drain!
Good practices in the commercial and business sector can help to keep our waterways healthy. Choose water-friendly cleaning and maintenance crews and contractors for your business.
Know your legal responsibilities
- Find out about your legal responsibilities regarding stormwater pollution.
Construction industry
- Keep soil on your site with well-designed erosion and sediment control measures.
- Manage construction waste properly. Make sure there are places to put rubbish and don't allow wastes to wash off site.
- Dispose of paint and other chemicals at a resource management centre.
- Plan roads and parking areas on your site to minimise erosion.
Cleaning and maintenance industry
- Rake and sweep instead of hosing paths and driveways.
- Use a catcher when mowing.
- Dispose of leaves, clippings and other organic waste in green bins, or take them to a green waste recycling facility.
- Keep soil and gravel from washing off the property. Mulch to retain moisture, plant groundcovers to stabilise soils, and use retaining edges for containment.
- Keep chemicals out of stormwater drains. Use fertilisers and pesticides sparingly, and never before or during rain.
- Dispose of chemicals at a resource management centre.
- Cover your load when transporting garden and landscaping materials and waste.
- Design landscaping to direct water runoff to gardens and lawns.
- Wastewater from cleaning operations should go to garden areas or the sewage system, not the stormwater drain.