Stormwater Runoff

Gardening practices have an important influence on the quality of water in our streams, creeks and
bays. Australian soils and waterways are generally low in nutrient content, and consequently the
organisms living in our waterways have adapted to low nutrient conditions. If nutrient levels
increase above normal, Australian aquatic plants and animals can be affected in several ways.
Nutrients
Sources of nutrients in our waterways related to gardening can come from:
Plant matter (cuttings, leaves, grass clippings)
I
Garden fertilisers
I
Ash from fires
I
When it rains a certain amount of water is absorbed into your garden, but a significant amount ends
up in our drains and waterways as stormwater runoff. As it moves through your garden, runoff picks
up fertilisers and ash and carries plant matter into our waterways. Anything that you sweep into the
gutter: leaves, grass clippings etc. washes directly into our waterways via drains. The plant matter
rots to release nutrients and utilises oxygen at the same time. Fertilisers sprayed and sprinkled
around your garden are picked up in a dissolved state and are readily absorbed by aquatic plants,
potentially leading to excess growth and algal blooms.
Too many nutrients in a waterway, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, can lead to:
1) Excessive Plant Growth: which can lead to the choking of waterbodies. Fluctuations in
dissolved oxygen levels can affect oxygen-consuming fish. Reduction of light penetration can affect
other plants. If the plants die, this can threaten the survival of planteating fish and other organisms.
2) Blue-green Algal Blooms: although this type of algae (cyanobacteria) occurs naturally in our
waterways, excessive nutrients can be a major contributing factor to an outbreak. Many blue-green
algae release toxins that can be fatal to wildlife, stock and domestic animals and affect human
health.
Toxins
Toxins are substances, which at certain concentrations are poisonous to living things. Some toxins
can accumulate hundreds or thousands of times in fish, shellfish and fish-eating birds, even though
the concentration in water is not directly toxic or detectable. Toxicants can kill organisms, weaken
an organisms ability to fight disease or interfere with life cycle development and reproduction.
Sources of toxicants in stormwater related to gardening can come from:
Garden pesticides
I
Garden insecticides
I
Garden herbicides
I
Garden fertilisers
I
Treated timbers
I
Pathogens
Pathogens are microscopic organisms and include viruses, bacterium, fungi and parasites. They are
common and widespread with some occurring naturally in soil and water. Pathogens can cause
disease in plants, animals and humans. To gauge water quality we measure levels of the bacteria
E.coli as an indicator of the presence of human gut pathogens in water.
Sources of E. coli relating to gardening include:
Garden fertilisers
I
Garden manure
I
Sustainable Gardening Australia asks you to consider chemical alternatives or use low
environmental impact chemicals, slow release fertilisers and use only the amount
recommended by the manufacturer. Try not to apply these chemicals before heavy rain or
on windy days.
AVOID DISPOSING OF GARDEN WASTE IN GUTTERS OR
DRAINS.