Urban Stormwater Education Programme: Innovative Community Education Project

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Urban Stormwater Education Programme Innovative
Community Education Project
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BUILDING our future towards pollution control in
stormwater management
Who Is responsible? The owner and the builder
are responsible for controlling soil erosion and
preventing sediment from the building site being
washed into stormwater drains.
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Legislation
Protection of the Environment Operations (POEO)
Act 1997 - consolidates key pollution statutes
under a single Act that identifies important
pollution issues. The Act provides a single
licencing arrangement relating to air pollution,
water pollution, noise pollution and waste
pollution. The Act does not require anyone to
hold a licence rather the onus is on anyone who
feels they may be in breach of the Act, by
polluting waters, to apply for a licence. A
breach of the Act could involve prosecution, in
other cases it may be on-the-spot fines of up to
750 for individuals and 1500 for corporations,
or implementation of different strategies, such
as issuing notices requiring cleanup etc.
Pollution - sediment and turbidity, as well as
any other matter that changes the physical,
biological or chemical conditions of the water
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Stormwater Management

• Sources of Sediment Pollution
• Concrete waste
• Dewatering of trenches
• Stockpiles of imported materials (eg sand)
• Cutting of bricks, pavers and concrete

• Other Pollutant Sources
• Nutrients from fertilisers
• Herbicides and pesticides used in landscaping
• Acids from washing
• Building wastes and litter
• Paint and paint wastes
• Oils, grease and fuel from equipment

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Stormwater Pollution and Solutions

• Excess materials and water from leaning tools and
  equipment should not be washed down stormwater
  drains
• Hay bales can be used to collect sediment
• After construction, the hay bales can be mulched
  around new plants
• Use less or alternatives for pesticide and
  herbicide applications, such as natural pest
  controls, e.g. lady beetles and praying mantis
• Locate stockpiles of soil, gravel, sand and other
  materials so that the material
• does not spill onto the road or pavement
• is not placed in drainage lines, depressions or
  watercourses
• cannot be washed into roadways, drainage lines,
  depressions or watercourses.