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Melbourne Water

Melbourne's water
storages are currently

32.7%

Tips for Everyone

Everyone can do their bit to help improve the health of our rivers and creeks.

The health of the region’s rivers and creeks has improved significantly in recent years, but stormwater remains a significant source of pollution in urban areas.

Every year, millions of litres of stormwater wash litter, cigarette butts and pollutants from suburban streets and recreational areas down drains and into our rivers, creeks and bays. Find out more about the sources of stormwater pollution.

Wildlife relies on healthy rivers, creeks and wetlands for their survival. Their presence can be great indicators of the health of rivers and creeks. It is up to all of us to keep their homes clean and safe.

We have a number of programs in place to help remove some of the pollutants in stormwater. You can help too by following a few simple tips:
Dispose of paints and solvents properly

Fish: “I’m nervous my kids will get into chemicals”

Actions:
  • Never rinse paint into a gutter or drain
  • Buy only as much paint as you need
  • Clean brushes on rags, then rinse water-based paint into the garden
  • Dissolve oil-based paint in turps and dispose of via your Council waste and recycling service or find a Detox Your Home Site near you
  • "Try to use chemical free - it's better for my family and yours too."
  • Install your own rain garden - it's easy and affordable. Raingardens include a combination of native plants, shrubs and grasses that soak up rainfall collected from your roof or driveway and other polluted water. In doing so, raingardens reduce the amount of stormwater that would otherwise wash pollutants into the stormwater system and our waterways. Check out the raingarden brochure on our Water Sensitive Urban Design website for details.
Read more about safe paint disposal

Raingardens Brochure (PDF 2.1mb)

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Make sure you bin it tight

Owl: “I’m really concerned about eating rubbish”

Actions:
  • Never litter.
  • “Make sure that your rubbish is placed securely in bins and recycling containers so it can’t blow away or fall out. Then it won’t get into the stormwater drains and I’ll be a whole lot healthier.”

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Fix your leaks and service your car

Frog: “Too much oil in my diet can be a real problem”

Actions:
  • Check that your car isn’t leaking oil or petrol.
  • “Never pour oil into the gutter or drain: just one litre of oil can contaminate millions of litres of water and destroy my home. Your local council can direct you to an oil disposal centre.”

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Always pick up after your dog

Platypus: ‘I worry about keeping my family healthy.’

Action:

“Make sure that you dispose of dog droppings in your garden, or tie securely in a plastic bag and then bin. When they’re left on the street they wash into drains and pollute my drinking water.”

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