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-based pesticides and fertilisers in your garden and use organic gardening methods. Your local library has books on organic gardening, and herbs and flowers you can plant to keep pests away naturally.
- Make sure runoff from fertilisers, pesticides and herbicides does not enter stormwater drains or waterways. Fertilisers contain phosphates and nitrates, which pollute waterways and pesticides and herbicides harm aquatic life.
- Do not litter. Rubbish such as cigarette butts flow into our waterways and harm aquatic life.
- Do not dispose of the following into the sewer: solvents, oil-based products, paints, thinners, varnish, paint strippers, pesticides, poisons, fertilisers and acids. The sewer system cannot 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. 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 agents 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 agents and look for 'environmentally friendly' alternatives.
- Commercial toilet cleaners and substances used to freshen toilets contain chlorine and hydrocarbons which are dangerous to aquatic life. Scrubbing with a toilet brush and a cup of vinegar is a natural cleaner that works. Bad stains can be removed with a brush and bicarbonate of soda (bi-carb soda).
