Let's change our ways to change our waterways

What: Wash your car on the grass, use a bucket and empty the dirty water into an inside sink or onto your lawn.

Why: While washing your car, oils, heavy metals (from brakes), detergent and dirt from driveways and roads can contaminate streams and can contribute toward unpleasant algal blooms harmful to wildlife. Using a bucket also minimises water usage and any wash water runoff.

What: Use an automatic or pre-pay car wash, or car wash café.

Why: In these places the waste water is captured and disposed of to the sewer. In some cases the wash water may be cleaned and reused with the final rinse using fresh water.

What: Careful car maintenance - clean up oil spills, fix leaking cars, recycle used motor oil, and use drip pans to catch engine oil while repairing cars.

Why: Oil on roads and driveways can wash into waterways harming wildlife. Using a mechanic to regularly service your car can reduce leaks and they make sure your old oil is recycled and oil filters are disposed of appropriately. Used automotive oil from households can be taken to be recycled at Domestic Hazardous Waste Drop-offs located at most transfer stations.
Learn about storing, changing and disposing of fuel and oil here. | Find your local free waste oil drop off here.

What: Check that rain gutter down-pipes are not connected to the sewer system.

Why:Drains that collect wastewater from sinks and toilets must not collect rainwater because during heavy rain sewers can become full and overflow. This may lead to raw sewage getting into the stormwater system, streams and rivers.

What: Wash out water-based paint brushes over an inside sink or lawn.

Why: Many paints contain chemicals (pigments, spreaders and stickers) that can harm aquatic life, but most can be broken down naturally in the soil. Choose Environmental Choice certified paint products.
Learn how to avoid and dispose of waste paint here.

What: Oil-based paint should be wash out in a container with thinners.

Why: Never pour paint, thinners or household chemicals down the drain or into streams. Unused paint and thinners can be taken to be recycled at Domestic Hazardous Waste Drop-offs located at most transfer stations.
Learn how to avoid and dispose of waste paint here.

What: Sweep instead of hosing driveways, paths and roads of leaves and lawn clippings for composting. Green waste can easily be composted at home or by using council provided services.

Why: Sweeping uses less water and reduces dirt entering our waterways. Green waste can easily wash into streams, clogging channels, and as the organic matter breaks down it can lower the oxygen levels of the stream and emit methane, a powerful greenhouse gas.
Learn about composting at home here | See composting options for everyone from those on lifestyle blocks to apartments | Check out worm farms.

What: When building or renovating check that you or your contractor have systems in place to stop sediment entering stormwater drains and waterways.

Why: Make sure you are using correct environmental practices when building. Your plans and building consent should include information or site requirements to avoid this happening. You as the site owner and your contractor(s) are responsible for ensuring the systems are in place and operating correctly. (Under The Building Act property owners need to protect other property and stormwater drains from erosion and sediment).

What: Limit the use of artificial fertiliser (Urea) and apply only the amount recommended by manufacturers.

Why: When artificial fertilisers wash out of soil and into waterways they can easily disrupt aquatic life and result in unpleasant algal blooms that are harmful to wildlife.

What: Pick up your dog droppings.

Why: Washed into stormwater and waterways they can increase bacteria levels in rivers and streams.

What: Be a tidy kiwi - pick up litter around streets and gutters before it gets into our waterways and don't dump rubbish.

Why: Litter in gutters gets into streams through the stormwater system. Litter in our streams and rivers makes them look dirty and uncared for. Litter such as plastic bags and cigarette butts can choke animals and illegally dumped rubbish is a hazard for everyone. If you see dumped rubbish please call our 24 hour pollution hotline on 0800 76 55 88.

What: Don't dump rubbish. If you see dumped rubbish please call our 24 hour pollution hotline on 0800 76 55 88.

Why: Illegally dumped rubbish is a hazard for everyone.
Find your local transfer station, resource recovery park or waste exchange here.

What: Plant natives along streams and waterways.

Why: Using native plants along streams helps to reduces erosion, traps contaminants, encourages wildlife and looks great too.
Streamside planting guide.

What: Join a stream care programme to meet others helping to care for our waterways.

Why: Find a group near you.

What: Make sure waste pipes are not connected to the stormwater system.

Why:Process waste, wash-down water or hazardous substances from your site will be draining untreated into the stormwater network and polluting local waterways and is a fineable offence.

What: When cleaning vehicles all waste water should be washed down a sewer rather than stormwater grates.

Why: During cleaning hydrocarbons, heavy metals (from brakes), detergents and dirt from vehicles can contaminate waterways. A discharge of contaminants to stormwater from commercial or industrial sites is a fineable offence.
Vehicle and equipment washing

What: Regularly inspect all stormwater sumps. Check that only stormwater - clean rainfall runoff - gets into your stormwater system.

Why: Stormwater systems are the most likely path along which contaminants will leave a site. Look for possible contamination and to see if any sediment and surface pollutants need to be removed. Build up of these can block or reduce the effectiveness of stormwater sumps.
Good practices: Water Pre-treatment

What: Confirm your site drainage plan and label stormwater drains in blue and sewer drains in red.

Why: One of the most common reasons for water pollution incidents is a lack of awareness of the purpose of drains. Blue indicates drains that should only carry stormwater and red indicates others that should carry sewage/ trade waste and contaminated waste or process water.

What: Inspect oil interceptors and other treatment devices at least once a month.

Why: To remain effective and hold contaminated runoff these systems require regular maintenance to remove sediments and/or surface contaminants.
If/when cleaning is required you need to ensure that your waste is disposed of appropriately by your contractor. If it is not, you and your contractor are liable. Remember to always recharge your interceptor after cleaning.
Industrial pollution prevention.

What: At least once a month inspect the last stormwater sump or lift the last manhole lid on the stormwater pipes.

Why: This will let you know if any unacceptable discharges are occurring on your site and getting into the stormwater network.

What: Prevent spills using funnels, drip trays, buckets or other devices to catch decanting losses.

Why: You may be losing valuable site materials as well as draining contaminants untreated in Christchurch's stormwater network.

What: Regularly check all valves, pumps, flanges, seals and pipe connection points for storage and delivery areas on your site. Fully drain pipes after filling and when transferring materials.

Why: Leaking equipment or spills during filling can lead to contaminates getting into the stormwater network. Remember to check any pipe work that passes over roof tops and that no pipes are leaking into your spouting and downpipes that discharge to local waterways untreated.

What: Clean up spills immediately.

Why: Any spilt substances can drain untreated into Christchurch's stormwater network and waterways. Spills not cleaned up can be washed into the stormwater during the next rain.
Spills management.

What: Locate skips away from stormwater drains and preferably on sealed ground.

Why: Skips can leak or staff may drop waste when filling skips, and these could get into nearby stormwater sumps. On sealed surfaces discharges from your skip can be seen and cleaned up before contamination gets into your stormwater sump.

What: Minimise any work/activities done outside. If this is not possible then do it away from stormwater sumps. Keep yards, outdoor work areas, car parks and other surfaces that drain into stormwater clean and tidy.

Why: There may be a greater risk of an incident or accident where a contaminant can drain off your site and into Christchurch's stormwater network.

What: Regularly check drip trays to ensure they are not overflowing and are regularly emptied.

Why: Overflowing drip trays can lead to contaminants draining or being washed untreated in Christchurch's stormwater network.

What: Cover, label and manage all waste and recycling skips with accurate, easy to read and up to date information.

Why: Covering prevents rainwater entering and leaching contaminants out of bins into stormwater drains. Labelling prevents waste being put in the wrong container and contaminating valuable recyclables. Instruct staff on what should or should not be placed in skips or bins. Some sites have someone who regularly checks skips to make sure they are covered and the right bin is used.

What: Implement clear, relevant staff procedures for loading, unloading and transferring materials.

Why: If your loading or unloading areas have stormwater sumps nearby then staff need to know what to do in the event of a spill. Some older sites have old operational stormwater sumps inside sheds or under loading canopies - check these too.