Water quality
Tips for protecting water quality
To improve the quality of our water supply we need to reduce the amount of pollution that reaches our waterways.
You can:
- Minimise the use of chemical pesticides and fertilisers in your garden and use organic gardening methods. Visit your local library for books on organic gardening, and herbs and flowers you can plant to keep pests away naturally.
- Make sure water runoff doesn't carry chemicals into the stormwater drain or your local waterway. Pesticides and herbicides contain chemicals which pollute waterways and can harm aquatic life.
- Do not litter. Rubbish often finds its way into waterways through stormwater drains. This pollution, can flow into our waterways and harm aquatic life.
- Do not dispose of the following into your drains: solvents, oil-based products, paints, thinners, varnish, paint strippers, pesticides, poisons, fertilisers and acids. The water treatment system cannot effectively treat these substances and they end up damaging our waterways. Ask your local council how to safely get rid of these items.
- If you change your own motor oil, you should collect, store and recycle it. Don't put it down your drain or the stormwater drain. Ask your nearest service station for more information.
Phosphates in household cleaners and detergents flow into the sewerage system, increasing treatment costs and algae growth, which disturbs the natural balance for water life.
You can:
- Minimise phosphates reaching our water system by choosing detergents, cleaning products and washing powders that have no phosphates or are low in phosphates.
- Measure laundry detergent carefully, using only the recommended amount.
- Look for pure soap or soap-based dishwashing and laundry substances.
- Avoid unnecessary use of cleaning products and look for 'environmentally friendly' alternatives.
- When washing your car, minimise your use of detergents and water and wash cars on a grassy area - not on the driveway or road. By reducing the amount of water and detergent you use and ensuring it soaks into your lawn and doesn't run down the stormwater drain, you reduce water pollution.
- Scrub toilets with a toilet brush and a cup of vinegar rather than a commercial toilet cleaner. Stains can be removed with a brush and bicarbonate of soda (bi-carb soda).
Commercial toilet cleaners and substances used to freshen toilets contain chemicals which are dangerous to aquatic life.