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<< Back to About the Mount Lofty
Ranges Watershed
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After more than 160 years of European occupation, our water resources
have become degraded. The major water quality problems in the
Mount Lofty Ranges watershed are generally the result of a number
of small influences (diffuse pollution) combining to produce a
major effect on water quality. The major pollutants include:
- faecal contamination
- parasites (Cryptosporidium and Giardia)
- nutrient contamination
- sediment
- pesticide contamination.
These may come from:
- leaking septic tanks
- animal faeces ending up in watercourses
- over application and poorly timed application of fertilisers
and chemicals
- degraded and poorly managed watercourses
- poor management of developments, especially storage and/or
disposal of waste and other materials
- waste ending up in watercourses—this includes soil, clay,
gravel, sand, leaves, compost, lawn clippings, air conditioning
and cooling system wastewater, animal droppings, cleaning products,
garden waste, lubricants, paint and paint wastewater, pool chemicals
and water, rubbish and littler, and wash-down water from vehicles
and animals.
You can easily keep pollutants out of water by:
- having a professional check your septic tank for leaks, and
getting it emptied regularly (every 1-3 years)
- keeping animals away from watercourses
- only applying the recommended quantity of fertiliser and chemical,
keeping it away from watercourses and stormwater drains, and
never using it before rain is expected
- stabilising watercourses to reduce erosion
- disposing of or storing wastes at least 50 metres from watercourses
and stormwater drains—you could use green waste bins, building
skips or council disposal points
- washing cars on lawns, sweeping instead of washing driveways
and hard surfaces, disposing of dirt in the bin or garden.
This page was last modified 21-04-2006
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