Pollution incident or a concern

Investigation of water pollution incidents by Hornsby Shire Council

Council has a team of Environmental Compliance Officers who investigate water pollution incidents.

Council’s Officer’s carry out both desktop and field investigations and once the person(s) responsible for the water pollution incident is/are identified, Council can take the following actions:

• Education to support positive behavioural change
• Issue a Penalty Infringement Notice to the person(s) responsible, and/or
• Issue one of the following under the Protection of the Environmental Operations Act 1997:
  • Clean-Up Notice – to take such clean-up action as is specified in the notice and within such period as is specified in the notice
  • Prevention Notice – to take such action, as is specified in the notice and within such period (if any) as is specified in the notice, to ensure that the activity is carried on in future in an environmentally satisfactory manner at any premises or by any person (otherwise than at premises).

Regulatory authorities such as Council and the NSW Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) are provided powers to issue notices, directions and penalties related to water pollution incidents, pursuant to the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. Whilst other authorities may investigate and seek to remedy incidents related to their industry – they must notify the EPA and/or Council of the incident.

The list below shows types of water pollution incidents and the appropriate regulatory authority to contact.

If you believe you have identified a water pollution incident, you should immediately report it to the appropriate regulatory authority. If unsure of who best to contact, please contact Council in the first instance.

In the case of a water pollution incident occurring due to an emergency such as a car accident, contact triple zero (000) immediately.

When reporting a water pollution incident, provide as much information as you can, including a definitive location of where you noticed the pollution incident and/or where you believe the pollution incident has originated from. Provide information such as business names, vehicle registrations, photos and/or videos of the incident.

Stormwater is rainwater that does not soak into the ground but instead flows over roofs, roads, and open spaces. As this runoff travels, especially in urban and rural areas, it gathers pollutants along the way, which are then carried directly into stormwater drains and eventually into creeks, rivers, estuaries, and the ocean. Unlike wastewater, which is treated before it is released into the environment, stormwater is often untreated, posing a significant threat to water quality and ecosystems.

Hornsby Shire is fortunate to have an environmental levy called the Catchments Remediation Rate, which has funded the installation of over 400 stormwater quality improvement devices. These devices play a crucial role in filtering and reducing pollutants from stormwater before it enters local waterways, helping to protect the health of our creeks, rivers, and natural ecosystems.

How stormwater becomes polluted

Stormwater becomes polluted when rainwater picks up and transports various pollutants from human and natural activities. In urban areas, the presence of impervious surfaces like roads and buildings prevents water from being absorbed into the ground. As a result, rainwater flows rapidly over these surfaces, collecting contaminants such as litter, oil, and chemicals. In rural areas, pollutants from agriculture, land clearing, and livestock can similarly be swept into waterways. The speed and volume of stormwater runoff contribute to the scale of pollution, especially after heavy rainfall.

Sources of urban and rural stormwater pollution

Pollution sources vary significantly between urban and rural settings due to different land uses and activities:

• Urban environments: In cities and towns, stormwater runoff carries pollutants from many sources, including:
  • Road surfaces: Oil, metals, and rubber particles from vehicles
  • Industrial and commercial premises: Chemical spills, waste materials, and hazardous substances.
  • Parks and gardens: Pesticides, herbicides, and excess fertilisers from lawn maintenance
  • Households: Detergents from car washing, paint residues, pet waste and home maintenance activities such as high-pressure roof cleaning
  • Degraded riparian areas: Eroded streambanks that contribute sediment to waterways
  • Construction and building sites: Inadequate erosion and sediment control measures contribute to significant sediment pollution, which can cloud waterways and smother aquatic habitats
  • Bush fires: Ash and sediment left behind after fires
  • Boats and marinas: Fuel spills and sewage discharge.

• Rural areas: In rural areas, pollution sources are more dispersed and include:
  • Agricultural activities: Fertilisers, pesticides, and sediment from broadacre cropping and irrigation farming
  • Grazing and intensive livestock industries: Animal waste and soil compaction increasing runoff
  • Land clearing: Both historical and current clearing practices that lead to significant erosion and sediment deposition in waterways.

These sources highlight the diverse ways human activity impacts the health of our waterways, emphasising the need for behaviour change and pollution prevention.

Main types of stormwater pollutants

Stormwater pollution comes in many forms, each with its unique impacts on waterway health. The five main types include:

1. Litter: Items like cigarette butts, cans, food wrappers, plastic bags, and drink bottles are often swept into storm drains. This debris can harm wildlife, block water flows, and degrade natural environments
2. Chemical pollution: Everyday chemicals such as car wash detergents, excess garden fertilisers, paint residues, oil, and grease contaminate stormwater. These substances can be toxic to aquatic life and disrupt ecosystems
3. 'Natural' pollution: Organic materials like leaves and lawn clippings might seem harmless but contribute to water pollution. Unnatural quantities are flushed into local waterways and as these materials decompose, they deplete oxygen levels, harming fish and other aquatic organisms
4. Sediment pollution: Poor erosion and sediment control practices on construction sites and in areas of cleared bushland lead to increased sediment in waterways. Excess sediment can smother aquatic habitats, reduce water quality, and disrupt aquatic life
5. Pathogens: Bacteria and viruses from leaking septic tanks, animal faeces, and sewerage overflows pose health risks to humans and wildlife. These microorganisms can cause waterborne diseases and degrade recreational water quality.

Understanding these pollutants is the first step in taking action to minimise their impact and protect our valuable local waterways.

Useful links

• How to reduce stormwater pollution

Keeping stormwater out of the sewerage system

Sewage leaking and overflowing into local waterways can be a major pollution problem. Most urban waterways contain high levels of sewage contamination after rain. Our stormwater and sewerage systems are two separate underground pipe networks, but when stormwater gets into the sewerage system the extra water can impact on the ability of the sewerage system to cope with additional flows. When the pipes capacity is exceeded leaks and overflows of diluted raw sewage may occur. Overflows and leaking pipes are a serious source of pollution, a potential health risk and a nuisance to both the community and Council.

There are two ways for stormwater to get into the sewerage system:

• Infiltration – usually caused by cracked or broken underground pipes which can be difficult to detect; and
• Inflow – a direct flow of rainwater usually from an illegal roofing downpipe that has been directly connected to the sewerage system.

Property owners are responsible for maintaining the internal pipes on their property so that stormwater doesn’t leak into the sewerage system.

If you are unsure if stormwater is getting into your internal sewerage system there are a number of tests that can be conducted to find where potential issues may be including:

• Camera investigation – a remote control CCTV camera can be inserted into the pipes to check what condition they are in; and/or
• Smoke testing – which is non-toxic smoke directed into the sewer pipes and typically smoke will come out of any inappropriate connections or breaks to pipes.

Common ways stormwater can get into the sewerage system:

• Cracks in sewerage pipes – usually caused by tree roots or movement in the ground.
• Low-lying Gully – these are found just outside your house and generally have a loose-fitting grate that comes off easily in the instance of a sewer overflow. If the gully is low-lying in the ground, then it can let large amounts of stormwater into the sewerage system. A plumber can raise the gully or lower the ground around it.
• Direct (illegal) connection – stormwater pipes are not allowed to be connected to the sewerage system. The effect of excess water in the sewerage system can cause overflows of raw diluted sewage further down the system.
• Inspection Holes – poorly fitting, cracked, or broken inspection holes can let water into the system. If you notice any problems, contact Sydney Water directly.
• Broken Pipes –Sydney Water is responsible for the wastewater network up to a property connection point. Property owners are responsible for the private wastewater pipes on their property up to and including that connection point, if you suspect any issues on your property, please contact a licensed plumber immediately.
• Boundary Traps – are inspection points in the sewerage system and mark the place where your system joins the Sydney Water network. Damaged or cracked lids and/or concrete rims will allow unwanted stormwater water to enter the system. There will also be a problem if the vertical riser (the pipe under the boundary trap) is cracked.

Popping the pipe: how sewage gets out into the environment

Useful links

• How do Council’s stormwater and sewerage systems operate
• How does NSW Department of Planning and Environment approach water pollution

If you have noticed a slimy brown/orange residue in your local creek or drain, it may be iron bacteria – a naturally occurring micro-organism.

There are two quick tests to indicate whether it is iron bacteria or a pollution incident:

• Surface test – Poke a stick into the oily looking water. If the surface fractures like ice and does not join back together, it is likely iron bacteria. However, if the surface film clings to your stick and does join back together, then it could be oil
• Smell test – If the odour smells like decaying matter it is most likely caused from the bacteria dying. However, it should not have a toxic smell like sewage, chemicals, petrol, or oil.

If you are unsure whether it is iron bacteria and are concerned a pollution incident has occurred, please contact Council to investigate.

Report water pollution

Algal blooms occur in our local waterways. Not all algal blooms are toxic but if in doubt avoid contact and report it so we can do an assessment and manage it accordingly. Exposure to algal blooms and toxins can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting; skin eye or throat irritation and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties. This applies to both people and pets.

Information required when reporting an algal bloom:

• Is the water discoloured? Which colour?
• What is the extent of the bloom?
  • Small (area in a river, close to a boat ramp)
  • Large (long section of shoreline, section of estuary)
  • Widespread (as far as you can see, and it seems to affect the entire waterbody/shoreline).
• Description of bloom's appearance. Some examples are:
  • Green streaks on the water surface
  • Pea soup appearance within the water
  • Spilled paint appearance on the surface of the water
  • Green dots/clumps on or in the water
  • Bubbling scum on the surface
  • Hairy, silky strands on rocks, plants, or water
  • Milky, whitish water.

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  Useful links

  • Current Algal bloom notifications

Fish kills are defined as a sudden mass mortality of wild fish.

Fish kills can occur at any time although data indicates fish kills are more likely to occur:

• in hot summer days resulting in high surface water temperatures
• following sudden changes in temperature (thermal stratification and de-stratification)
• during or post an algal bloom
• during hypoxic blackwater – when there is a lot of organic material washed into the river, its rapid decay can consume dissolved oxygen from the water. If dissolved oxygen drops to very low levels, this can cause ‘hypoxic’ water which can be stressful for native fish and can lead to fish kills.

Please report any fish death incidents or observations to the Fishers Watch Phone line on 1800 043 536 and/or Council.

Useful links

• DPI Fish kills

Many aquatic plants and animals are deliberately or accidentally introduced into the environment by humans. Some species have established themselves in local waterways and are now regarded as aquatic pests.

For information on how to identify and report marine and freshwater pest animals and seaweed, visit Aquatic biosecurity

To see a list of water weeds in NSW visit NSW WeedWise

Report suspicious water weeds to Council on 9847 6666 or phone the NSW Invasive Plants and Animals Enquiry Line on 1800 680 244 or email weeds@dpi.nsw.gov.au

For tips on how you can help prevent the spread of water weeds visit Water weeds in NSW.

Plant pests

For information on aquatic and freshwater plant pest species, visit https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Weeds

• Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
• Frogbit (Limnobium laevigatum)
• Kidney-leaf mud plantain (Heteranthera reniformis)
• Long-leaf willow primrose (Ludwigia longifolia)
• Ludwigia (Ludwigia peruviana)
• Parrot's feather (Myriophyllum aquaticum)
• Red ludwigia (Ludwigia repens)
• Sagittaria (Sagittaria platyphylla)
• Salvinia (Salvinia molesta)
• Senegal tea plant (Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)
• Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)
• Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)
• Water poppy (Hydrocleys nymphoides)
• Yellow waterlily (Nymphaea mexicana)

Animal pests

For information on aquatic and freshwater animal and seaweed pest species, visit https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/aquatic-biosecurity/pests-diseases

Species recorded within or near Hornsby Shire

• Pacific Oyster (Magellana gigas)
• Japanese goby (Tridentiger trigonocephalus)
• Yellowfin Goby (Acanthogobius flavimanus)
• Caulerpa (Caulerpa taxifolia)
• Eastern gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki)
• Common carp (Cyprinus carpio)