What can you do for the environment

The best way to protect our creeks and rivers is to prevent pollution at the source — and to use water wisely.

When people think of water pollution, they often picture industrial spills or factory waste — and while these can be serious incidents, they’re not the only contributors. Everyday activities at home and at work can have just as much impact over time.

When it rains, water runs off roofs, gardens, driveways and work sites, picking up pollutants like litter, oil, detergents, pet waste, fertilisers, sediment and chemicals. This polluted runoff enters stormwater drains — which, unlike household sewage, are generally not treated. Unless it passes through one of Hornsby Shire’s 400+ Stormwater Quality Improvement Devices (SQID)s, it flows directly into local creeks and, eventually, the Hawkesbury or Lane Cove Rivers.

Both households and businesses contribute to pollution entering our waterways. At home, common issues include overuse of fertilisers, hosing down hard surfaces, and not picking up after pets. In business and industrial areas, pollution can result from poor chemical storage, uncovered waste, or wash-down areas draining into stormwater.

But protecting our waterways isn’t just about water quality — it’s also about water quantity. We all rely on our dams for drinking water, so using water efficiently helps ensure there’s enough to go around, especially during dry periods.

We all live in a catchment and share responsibility for looking after our environment. Whether you're at home or at work, small everyday actions — like saving water and preventing pollution — can make a big difference.