Wiri awash with wash water – what you can do to help
By Katrina Channing, Healthy Waters Specialist
Throughout the year, Auckland Council has been visiting Industrial and Trade businesses in the Wiri area. These visits are to check that businesses are operating in a way that protects our environment from any environmentally hazardous substances that may be stored or used on site.
A common issue that has been encountered is wash water, from vehicle or equipment washing, entering the public stormwater system.
What’s the problem with wash water?
Whatever enters the stormwater drains ends up in our waterways and the sea – stormwater is not filtered or treated. Water from washing vehicles and equipment can contain a number of contaminants, including detergents, oil and fuel, dirt and paint. These pollutants can cause serious damage to our environment by contaminating waterways and degrading aquatic habitats.
When considering washing vehicles or equipment on site, consider:
- Does the washing need to occur on site? E.g. can vehicles be taken to dedicated car or truck wash facilities?
- Can water be diverted to the wastewater system? (note a trade waste agreement may be required)
- Can a wash bay be installed?
What about ‘green’ or biodegradable products?
Biodegradable products require oxygen to break them down. This reduces the amount of oxygen available to life within the waterways. If there are enough of these products in the waterways, the cumulative affect can have a huge impact on the wildlife. These products should therefore be treated as a pollutant and kept out of our waterways.
We appreciate everyone’s efforts in helping to ensure that our environment and waterways are kept safe and clean. If you have any questions specific to your site, please contact [email protected].