Stormwater Pollution

Stormwater is a significant source of water pollution in Hurstville City.

Stormwater is water which, after rainfall, drains off surfaces like roofs, roads and driveways, directly into drains. Gutters and drains are the beginning of the stormwater system, and transport stormwater runoff through channels and pipes before it discharges directly into our creeks and rivers. Our waterways become polluted when it rains because the stormwater collects cigarette butts, litter, sediment, dog droppings, grease, oil, leaves which are in our yards and streets. Residential properties, shops and industries all contribute to pollution entering our waterways. Stormwater is not treated.

Stormwater is different from sewage. Sewers collect and carry wastewater from your bathroom, kitchen and laundry to sewage treatment plants where the wastewater (ie sewage) is treated before being discharged into the ocean.

In urban areas like Hurstville City, stormwater problems are intensified because a significant ammount of land has been altered and developed for human use such as housing and commercial/industrial purposes. Built up areas have many more hard and impervious surfaces than natural areas which are capable of absorbing and storing large amounts of rainfall. Roofs, roads and footpaths can’t absorb rain, so the volume and speed of runoff from urban areas is much higher than in a natural environment.