Stormwater management could be key to saving Victoria’s waterways

An Environmental Protection Agency scientist has outlined simple tricks for homeowners that will go a long way to restoring fire-ravaged Stony Creek and keep it healthy in the long term.

Washing you car can have a devastating effect on local waterways.

Everyday storm water management could be the key to revitalising Stony Creek, according to a scientist.

While the water quality of the creek has continued to improve since the West Footscray fire last year, Environmental Protection Agency scientist senior scientist Leon Metzeling said many people didn’t realise the impact they have on the creek’s health every day.

Mr Metzeling said neighbours often used stormwater drains to get rid of wastewater without knowing the next place it flowed into was the creek.

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“People don’t realise it ends up in our streams. We try to teach people that after the storm water system the next step in the creek or the bay,” he said.

“Simple things like washing your car — the soap suds end up down in the creek. When it rains the run-off goes directly into storm water drains.”

Restaurant owners and traders needed to learn dirty water and waste liquids could not be thrown into the gutter and needed to be disposed of appropriately, he said.

More storm water run off is flooding waterways as more people pave over their gardens.

Mr Metzeling said the water quality of Stony Creek after the West Footscray fire last year was astonishing, but it could be at its pre-fire condition in a year.

“The scale of this impact was severe. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Streams can be impacted really quickly and take a long time to recover,” he said.

A proactive approach was a much better way to restore vitality to Stony Creek, he said, and would speed up the recovery process.

At least 500 cubic metres of contaminated sediment is being removed from Stony Creek but it will be at least a year before the creek is fully restored.

“We unfortunately get spills into our urban stream fairly regularly and far too often. Clean your car on your lawn or nature strip so some of the water is soaked up by the earth and broken down,” he said.

“We have so many hard surfaces that whatever liquid we have just runs off it instead of being absorbed by a garden. It’s a major problem with stormwater.

“Have rainwater tanks and catchments to catch water from the roof instead of going down the drain.

“In industrial areas water can be caught in storm water tanks. Some industries are doing it but it needs to be encouraged more. It’s not a requirement but that may change in the future.”

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