There are three main types of water pollution

• litter, such as cigarette butts, cans, paper or plastic bags
• chemical pollution, such as detergents, oil or fertilisers
• 'natural' pollution, such as leaves, garden clippings, soil or animal droppings.

This pollution ends up discharging into our waterways as sediment, sludge and solids.

Pollution can be caught in pollution traps, strategically paced by Council through out the area, but the most effective way to reduce this problem is to prevent the pollution entering the stormwater system in the first place. Unfortunately the traps don't catch all the silt or litter and they don't stop chemicals.

Everyone has a part to play. Reducing the pollution depends on every person preventing harmful natural or chemical substances entering the drains.

The penalty for causing water pollution

There are penalties for causing pollution for both individuals and corporations. Three types of notices can be issued:

• Penalty Notice
• Clean Up Notice
• Prevention Notice

How to prevent water pollution at home:

Consider the following activities, they area illegal and would result in a penalty notice:

• car washing on the street: using detergent and allowing it to run down the street drain
• fixing your car on the street: letting oil or other substances flow into the street drain
• disposing of garden waste: letting leaves or garden clippings accumulate in gutters or driveways where they can end up in the street drain
• dropping litter: dropping litter where it will be swept into the street drains next time it rains
• cleaning paint brushes: letting the contaminated water flow into the street drain
• hosing the footpath: letting the water carry dirt, soil or other waste into the street drains
• Not picking up dog droppings: left dog droppings will be carried into the stormwater system next time it rains. (Imagine the cumulative effect of all the dogs in your neighbourhood.)

How to prevent water pollution at work:

Consider the following activities and review your business practices. Some activities area illegal and would result in a penalty notice:

• motor vehicle repairers or printers: letting oil, chemicals or other waste flow into the street drain
• builders: not shielding street drains from spilt chemicals or excess soil, sand, gravel or other building waste
• all work places: letting cigarette butts or litter fall into gutters or on driveways; letting chemicals, detergents or other harmful fluids run into street drains.
• restaurants: not cleaning up wind blown take away litter and incorrect storage and disposal of oil and waste water

Stormwater

Pittwater is surrounded by waterways. Pollution washes into our stormwater drains where it accumulates and ends up in our creeks and oceans.

Please help keep our waterways clean and remember that the "drain is just for rain".

Spills

Spills of liquid waste can harm the environment and your business.

For effective bunding and spill management visit EPA website.

Reporting water pollution

Depending on the source type and location of pollution may depend upon who best to contact.  Here is a contact guide:

• Pollution in stormwater, drain, creek or water way - Council
• Sewer overflow from main sewer line - Sydney Water
• Pollution from activities carried out by the State, a public authority or a scheduled premises - Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW)
• Pollution in Pittwater - Council or NSW Maritime Authority
• Pollution from Boats - NSW Maritime Authority

Making a water pollution complaint with Council

• Before you lodge a water pollution complaint, check to see what organisation listed above is responsible to investigate the matter.
• Time and date of the water pollution incident
• Details of pollution (a labelled water sample collected in a clean container may be helpful)
• Details of where the pollution was discovered
• Advise if you witnessed the pollution incident occurring and details of the incident
• Your contact details

Reporting pollution as close to the time of the pollution incident as possible will greatly assist the investigation.