Preventing water pollution helps protect Redlands Coast water quality and is essential for maintaining the health of our waterways, catchments and our own quality of life. For further information visit waterways, coasts and catchments.
We all share the responsibility for keeping our waterways clean so you must implement appropriate control measures if prescribed water contaminants are likely to be deposited into a storm water drain, gutter or natural water.
If you are working on a building or development project, you may require information on erosion and sediment control practices and your responsibilities. Full details are available on our erosion and sediment control page.
What are prescribed water contaminants?
Prescribed water contaminants include pollutants such as chemicals, oil, paint, animal matter, plant matter, rubbish, sewage and wastewater from outdoor cleaning.
In Queensland, materials which are prescribed water contaminants, are listed in Schedule 10 of the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019.
Can Council investigate water pollution?
Council investigates most water pollution incidents and will respond quickly to pollution complaints. This response time varies depending on the likely impacts to the Redlands Coast environment. We may also need to refer the investigation to another government agency who manage these specific pollution incidents.
Council's actions may include:
- conducting an onsite investigation
- sending an advisory letter and fact sheet to both the alleged offender and the complainant
- Issuing enforcement notices
- on-the-spot fines
- prosecution
Further information is available as a:
Water pollution not investigated by Council
Council shares the responsibility of managing water pollution incidents with other government agencies. Below is an outline of which agency investigates.
| Government agency | Water pollution incident |
|---|---|
| Department of Transport and Main Roads. | Prescribed contaminants on a main road, highway or motorway |
| Maritime Safety Queensland. | Prescribed contaminants in a major waterway (e.g. river, broadwater, ocean, bay) or from boat/vessel. |
| Department of Environment and Science. | 50 or more dead fish or prescribed contaminants from a State Government development site or state government licensed activity or an environmental incident causing Material or Serious Environmental Harm |
Report water pollution
Contact Council about an environmental pollution issue.
How to reduce water pollution from cleaning businesses
Any businesses operating in the Redland City area must prevent prescribed water contaminants from entering our storm water system.
If you operate a business like:
- pet hydro bath or mobile dog washing units
- car washing
- carpet cleaning
- steam and high-pressure cleaning
- trades
- brick and paver cutting
- aggregate driveway laying
- roof cleaning or re-coating.
How to prevent water pollution
- If possible, disconnect down pipes and redirect roof cleaning wastewater to the garden, or to a holding tank for disposal by a licensed liquid waste disposal contractor.
- If surface cleaning, ensure wastewater does accidentally run to the storm water gutter. Remove all captured wastewater as soon as possible using a vacuum or bilge pump and direct to lawns or gardens, making sure no wastewater flows into the storm water drain.
- Use sandbags or a portable bund to prevent wastewater from entering drains.
- Sweep up all waste material rather than hosing down.
- Avoid using detergents, oils, pesticides or chemicals near drains, gutters and waterways.
- Work on a grassed or gravelled area away from drains, roadside gutters and waterways.
- Use as little water as possible or use trigger hoses where necessary.
- Ensure all staff are aware of their environmental responsibilities and procedure the business has in place to prevent any environmental incidences.
- Wastewater containing any oil or chemicals must be collected by a company licensed to transport regulated waste and disposed of at a facility licensed to accept regulated waste. For permanent situations, approval from your water authority must be obtained for waste to be disposed of via the sewer system under a Trade Waste permit.
Further information about roof cleaning is available as a:
Natural occurring bacteria and algae
During the right conditions certain bacteria and algae will reach concentrations where they might look like a water pollutant. If you still have concerns, please contact Council to investigate.
- Trichodesmium are cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) – appear naturally in tropical and subtropical ocean waters and are commonly known as sea sawdust, whale sperm, whale food and sea scum.
- Foam in rivers, creeks and canals – examination has shown undifferentiated algal, vegetable and diatomaceous debris and some filamentous organisms, namely iron bacteria.
- Iron bacteria – a slimy brown residue in your local waterway or drain – it could be iron bacteria, a naturally occurring microoganism.