STORMWATER

 

What is stormwater?

Stormwater is water rainfall runoff that enters the drainage system. Stormwater carries a wide range of pollutants, including sediment, oil, hydrocarbons, leaves and litter into our rivers, creeks, lakes and bays. Reducing pollution and protecting the quality of our stormwater drains is in everyone's interest. We can all do simple things to reduce stormwater pollution, such as picking up litter and preventing spills in our workplaces. Cleaner stormwater provides new opportunities for stormwater harvesting and re-use. This helps protect our precious water reserves.

What issues are there with stormwater?

The stormwater system takes rainwater runoff from our streets and building guttering into the closest waterway. This means it picks up many different pollutants, from fuel and oil off our roads and soaps for cleaning, to litter dropped on our streets and leaves from deciduous trees.

Unlike sewage, stormwater is not treated before it enters our waterways. In some cases it is filtered by traps or wetlands, usually located at the end of the pipe system, but in most cases it flows directly from our streets and gutters into our creeks, rivers, bays and the ocean.

Maintaining our water quality is a challenge for the entire community. As the population grows and urban development continues, we must be mindful of the direct link between the stormwater system and our waterways.

Things to consider with stormwater

In using water sensitive design principles all sites should be able to maximise permeable surfaces, such as garden beds, lawns, porous paving and paths. When installing sub-surface units, such as soakwells and infiltration trenches, you need to consider issues like soil type, soil depth, ground water depth, the slope of the terrain and local council regulations.

Use a licensed plumber

In Victoria, all plumbing work with a value of $500 or more, most gasfitting work and any work on below ground sanitary drains requires a compliance certificate to be provided to the person for whom the work was done. The $500 value includes all labour, parts and appliances regardless of who they were purchased by. Only a licensed plumber may issue a compliance certificate. A compliance certificate is the means by which a licensed plumber self-certifies that the plumbing work complies with all legislative requirements. Licensed plumbers are highly skilled professionals accredited by the Victorian Government industry regulator, The Plumbing Industry Commission. To be licensed a plumber must have obtained the required qualifications, have extensive experience and hold a prescribed level of insurance.   

Licensed plumbers may undertake work in any class of plumbing for which they are licensed, may supervise other plumbers (registered or licensed) or plumbing apprentices carrying that class of plumbing work. They may also issue compliance certificates for that class of work. Plumbing work is defined by six classes:

  • water supply
  • gasfitting
  • sanitary
  • roofing (stormwater)
  • draining or mechanical services (heating, cooling and ventilation of buildings).


A person must be registered or licensed with the PIC to legally undertake any work within these classes.


 

Stormwater

Need help? Useful contacts and resources

Stormwater harvesting and use

Stormwater is an excellent alternative to using mains drinking water for many purposes. However, there is human health and environmental risks that need to be managed.

Technical information