Across Greater Sydney, our waterways have been under pressure over recent months. Heavy rainfall has led to increased runoff, flooding and polluted stormwater entering creeks, rivers and estuaries. While rain is essential for life, intense downpours can wash litter, sediment, oils and household pollutants straight into local waterways, impacting water quality and the plants and animals that depend on it.
This is where Streamwatch plays a vital role. Greater Sydney Landcare now supports over 40 Streamwatch groups, testing more than 100 sites every month. Some volunteers are new to the program, while others have been monitoring their local waterways for over 15 years. Together, these efforts contribute to a growing database that helps identify long-term trends and pollution events. But our greatest strength isn’t just data — it’s education. Many of the pressures facing our waterways can be reduced through simple, informed everyday actions. Prevention is always better than cure.
Recent heavy rain has highlighted how everyday actions can quickly become environmental problems. Increased runoff carries loose soil, leaves and grass clippings into stormwater drains, raising turbidity and making water cloudy. Cloudy water blocks sunlight, traps heat and reduces oxygen levels, stressing fish and waterbugs and encouraging algae growth. Simple actions like not overwatering gardens, planting along creek edges to reduce erosion, and washing cars on the lawn instead of the driveway can make a real difference.
Household pollution is another key issue. Fatbergs — unpleasant masses made up of fats, oils, food scraps and so-called “flushable” wipes — block sewerage pipes and can end up in waterways. With over 2 million dwellings in the Greater Sydney region, even small amounts of fat or food down the drain adds up quickly. A 14-tonne fatberg was removed from a sewer in Sydney’s south-west during a single cleaning session in 2020. Sydney Water removes more than 500 tonnes of wet wipes and similar waste from the sewerage system every year and clears close to 100 blockages per week at a cost nearly $15 million annually.
Litter also remains a persistent threat. While bans on single-use plastic bags and straws have helped, rubbish such as cigarette butts, fishing line and food packaging still enters waterways via wind, overflowing bins and stormwater runoff. Litter can choke wildlife, block water flow and leach toxic chemicals into the environment.
Pool backwashing is another often-overlooked issue. Pool water contains chlorine and other chemicals that are harmful to aquatic life. Backwash and pool water should always be discharged to the sewerage system, never the street or stormwater drains.
Streamwatch messages shared through social media continue to highlight these everyday actions that protect waterways — and often save money too. Pass the word, save our waterways, and help protect the places we all depend on.
Follow Streamwatch and Greater Sydney Landcare for tips, updates and stories from the field.
Together, small actions really do make a big difference.
