What is stormwater

Increased runoff or stormwater has also changed the water flow regime in our creeks, rivers and the coast. With less infiltration into the soil and groundwater, and higher flow in urban waterways, there is greater erosion in streams further adding to the pollutant load.

Changing the flow regime in this way has implications for the aquatic species that live in the urban waterways. It provides the regulatory framework to protect the South Australian environment and is supported through a suite of subordinate legislation and regulatory tools including the Environment Protection Water Quality Policy Water Quality Policy.

Polluted stormwater may cause significant ecological changes to receiving waters—groundwater, urban streams and coastal waters, including. In some areas such as Mount Gambier, stormwater discharges directly to the aquifer underground water.

This ultimately finds its way to the Blue Lake, the main water supply for Mount Gambier. The city's had adopted best practice stormwater management practices. In coastal waters not only has the pollution affected aquatic life, reducing biodiversity, it may also cause the water to be unsafe for swimming and other recreational uses.

In time, this may potentially impact the fishing and tourism industries. The Adelaide Coastal Waters Study found that the loss of more than 5, hectares of seagrass along the Adelaide metropolitan coast could be attributed to pollution some of which is due to stormwater pollution. Key recommendations:.

The EPA continues to monitor marine and other waters in the state to assess their condition and to provide information that can be used to guide management decisions. This monitoring is used to produce the aquatic ecosystem conditions reports. Impacts from stormwater have also been observed from coastal towns in some regional coastal areas such as Port Lincoln, Whyalla and coastal towns on Yorke Peninsula.

Polluted stormwater discharging at the coast. Stormwater is also a valuable resource and a potential alternative water supply. With predicted changes to our climate including longer dry periods and less rainfall, it is important to make the most of all alternative water supplies such as stormwater.

The quality of stormwater is critical in determining its suitability as an alternative water supply and if we are to use this resource we need to prevent stormwater pollution. The water must be fit for the intended purpose and pose no risks to the environment, or to public health and safety. Excessive stormwater pollution may be too costly to treat and the stormwater pollution becomes a lost opportunity for stormwater reuse schemes.

Back to Stormwater management. Environmental Info. Your list is empty! Add content to your list to keep track of interesting topics. Understanding stormwater.

What is stormwater? As rainwater runs across different surfaces, it can pick up various types of pollutants including: sediment from exposed soil oil and grease from driveways and roads leaves and animal droppings that collect in gutters chemicals from lawns and gardens.

Stormwater impacts Stormwater running over rural land or from our catchment towns can pick up a range of pollutants: dissolved chemicals from various sources including pesticides and herbicides waste from livestock and pets sewerage and effluent from falling onsite wastewater treatment systems soil from ploughed paddocks, eroded land or construction sites.

Stormwater can also: alter river flows change flooding patterns increase flow velocity, turbidity, erosion affect the availability of water for irrigation. Related Pages Benefits of managing your stormwater well Water sensitive design Development and stormwater During construction After construction. Find us on:. Stormwater management is the effort to reduce runoff of rainwater or melted snow into streets, lawns and other sites and the improvement of water quality, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency EPA.

When stormwater is absorbed into the soil, it is filtered and ultimately replenishes aquifers or flows into streams and rivers. However, when heavy rainwater hits, ground saturated by water creates excess moisture that runs across the surface and into storm sewers and road ditches.

This water often carries debris, chemicals, bacteria, eroded soil, and other pollutants, and carries them into streams, rivers, lakes, or wetlands. In urban and developed areas, impervious surfaces such as pavement and roofs prevent precipitation from naturally soaking into the ground.