Reducing urban water problems... The big news and well-known stories about our environmental problems tend to focus on the large recognisable targets such as heavy industrial facilities and leaking waste dumps. As a result, people all too often forget about the water pollution caused by smaller sources - especially their own pollution at the household level! ‘Non-point source’ pollution of this type is one of the leading sources of water quality degradation. Although individual homes might contribute only minor amounts of this pollution, the combined effects of an entire neighbourhood can be very serious on local waterways. These include eutrophication (nutrient over-enrichment), increased turbidity and silt sedimentation, and contamination with toxic chemical pollutants. Household chemicals... Many common household chemicals contain toxic ingredients. When improperly used or discarded, these products are a real threat to the environment. Properly dispose of household hazardous wastes such as used oil, antifreeze, paints and other household chemicals properly; and not down storm sewers or drains. Do not pour hazardous products down any drain or toilet. Do not discard with regular household rubbish. Learn about natural and less toxic alternatives and use them whenever possible. Contact your Regional Council for information regarding hazardous waste collection in your area. Wash your car on the grass so that soapy water soaks into the ground. Using a ‘gun’ type hose nozzle helps prevent water from running when it is not in use; or just fill a bucket! Malfunctioning or overflowing septic-tanks can release bacteria and excess nutrients into the local waterways; contaminating nearby lakes, streams, estuaries and even ground water. Septic-tank systems must be built in the right place and with the right soil types for them to function environmentally safely. Proper septic system management is also important, and a system should be inspected and emptied every 3 to 5 years. Apply lawn and garden chemicals such as pesticides, herbicide and fertilisers sparingly. Try to make sure none goes straight down a drain, disposing of remaining chemicals either through a proper disposal facility (your local council may be able to inform on these) or onto permeable ground. Do these artificial chemicals need to be used at all? Use natural alternatives to chemical fertilisers and pesticides. And if you have to use chemicals, why not test your soil to determine the right amount actually needed; then fertiliser can be saved on too; without a natural waterway being fertilised at the same time! As an alternative, using native plants that are well suited to a region’s climate and pests can drastically reduce the need for both summer watering and pesticide and fertiliser chemical applications as well providing additional environmental benefits such as wildlife food and habitat. Recycle all used motor oil by taking it to a service station or local recycling centre. Motor oil contains toxic chemicals that are harmful to humans and animals. Do not dump used motor oil down storm drains or on the ground. If your local council does not already have a program for collecting household hazardous wastes, ask them to establish one. Erosion... High levels of suspended sediment in drainage water is harmful to stream life; making it to turbid to see or even breathe sometimes, and settling out to smother animals and plants on the bottom. Controlling soil erosion by planting ground covering plants and stabilising erosion-prone areas such as banks with hard-landscaping or planting’s reduces soil erosion and resulting water quality deterioration, and also prevents the loss of good top-soil and nutrients. Reduced water soaking into the ground... Urban and suburban landscapes are covered by paved surfaces like sidewalks, parking lots, roads, and driveways. They prevent water from percolating down into the ground and because so much stormwater is drained straight to streams or the sea and never gets a chance to be absorbed into the soil, watertables that provide inflow for streams during dry weather are low, and these streams then dry out. They also cause runoff to accumulate and then funnel into storm drains at high speeds. When quickly flowing runoff empties into receiving waters, it can severely erode streambanks. Paved surfaces also transfer heat to runoff, thereby increasing the temperature of receiving waters. Native species of fish and other aquatic life cannot survive in these warmer waters. Solving this can be achieved by limiting the amount of impermeable surfaces in our landscape through the increased use permeable surfaces such as wood decks, bricks, and concrete lattice cobbles. Porous paving materials on driveways and paths (e.g. shell and gravel paths) rather than those more typically used such as impermeable concretes and asphalts let water soak into the ground rather than running straight off into the drains. These measures will increase the natural watertable height to the ground surface (and thus increase summer low flow volumes), and reduce stormwater drain inputs to the creek. Allowing thick ‘riparian’ (bankside) vegetation or buffer strips to grow along waterways slows runoff and also helps soak up pollutants. They also shade the ground, meaning water that falls onto these surfaces will not be as hot when it reaches a stream. Plants should be a range of heights; trees, shrubs, and ground covers. They will absorb up to 14 times more rainwater than a grass lawn to the water’s edge and they don't require fertiliser. If possible don't hose down driveways or footpaths. Instead, try dry sweeping paved areas and driveways. Gutters and downspouts should ideally drain onto vegetated or gravel- filled seepage areas - not directly onto paved surfaces. For large roof areas council may require runoff to go to a stormwater system; but try to get a permit to drain to a custom-built soak pit as a better alternative. Divert runoff from footpaths to grassy or planted areas of your property, so that stormwater can seep slowly into the ground. Finally... Try to get involved in the planning and zoning processes in your local community. That's where the big decisions are made that will shape the course of development and the future quality of our environment to come. Back to THREATS...