Pollutants can wash off from building sites into stormwater drains, which discharge directly into nearby waterways. This can be extremely damaging to the environment.
Common pollutants include:
- chemicals
- fuels
- oils
- paints
- soil, sand and dirt
- solvents
- wash-down water.
Under the general environmental duty, everyone must minimise risk and prevent waste from entering stormwater drains, so far as reasonably practicable.
Businesses must also comply with industrial waste duties.
Before starting work, check your local laws about stormwater pollution. There may be other requirements – for example, around sanitary facilities and asset protection. Check with your local council(opens in a new window).
Managing risks from stormwater pollution
Follow a risk management process to identify hazards, assess risk, and implement and monitor controls.
Reducing the risk of pollution and spills helps you to:
- meet your duties
- keep your workplace safe
- reduce people's exposure to potentially hazardous substances
- prevent wasted materials and clean-up costs
- meet community expectations.
To learn about the risks from construction activities and how to manage them, visit Construction.
Sediment
Sediment from building sites can pollute the stormwater that enters our drains. Sediment includes:
- soil
- sand
- gravel.
Vehicles can carry mud from building sites onto roads. Rain washes this mud into the stormwater system.
To prevent stormwater pollution from sediment on your building site:
- include stormwater pollution in your site management plan
- stop erosion and sediment from escaping your building site
- protect stockpiles of sand, gravel, topsoil and mulch by storing them on site, never on footpaths or roads
- keep mud off the road and the site
- keep litter contained
- clean and wash up on site after painting, plastering and concreting
- make sure your wash-up area is far from stormwater drains.
Learn more about managing erosion and sediment from your business.
Excess concrete
Washing excess concrete from the chute of a cement mixer (concrete agitator) truck releases concrete into the stormwater drain system.
This waste can:
- change the pH (acidity) of water, which can harm or kill plants, fish and other animals
- clog drains and gutters, which increases risk of flooding when it rains
- damage the stormwater system, requiring clean-up and possible replacement of pipes and gutters
- make water murky, which means aquatic plants cannot get enough sunlight and may die
- put heavy metals into our waterways, which risks our health and the health of fish and other aquatic animals.
To prevent this, make sure staff are trained in this procedure:
- After finishing a job, wash the content of the chute into a drum fitted with a lid before leaving the site.
- Secure the drum onto the main frame of the vehicle. The drum should be secured with a bracket and be easily accessible.
- Once the truck returns to the yard, remove the drum from the bracket and empty the wastewater inside into the correct treatment facility. In many cases, wastewater containing diluted wet cement can be recycled back into the plant.
- Replace the drum on the truck.
Paint and other liquids
Paint, paint thinners and paint strippers are highly toxic materials. They can kill aquatic animals and plants and ruin their habitats.
Do not release these products or other toxic liquids into stormwater drains.
This is particularly important for mobile painters who work at different locations.
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