Stormwater Pollution

Many South Australians are unaware that stormwater from your street flows untreated into your local waterways and beaches. Stormwater pollution continues to have significant long-term negative impacts on the health of local waterways.

As stormwater travels over land, it picks up all kinds of chemicals and sediments that are not naturally found in our waterways. Some of these are poisonous, even in small amounts. Others, such as nutrients, are not poisonous but may be produced in such great quantities that natural systems simply can’t cope. They can eventually cause toxic algal blooms and other pollution problems in our waterways.

Stormwater pollution can be divided into three categories:

• Natural – organic material such as leaves, grass clippings and sediment
• Chemical – such as detergents, coolant, oil, grease, fertiliser and paint
• Litter – such as plastic bags and cigarette butts.

All of these pollutants are related to our own household and community behaviours, and the behaviours of business and industry. We all have a role to play to prevent stormwater pollution.

More Information
About Stormwater
What is stormwater pollution?
Stormwater Management Fact Sheets (scroll to Stormwater Management Series)
Stormwater Fact Sheets
Stormwater Pollution Prevention Project