Water is a scarce and essential natural resource. Conserving and maintaining water quality is especially important in Australia, the world’s driest inhabited continent. Preventing or reducing water pollution protects our water quality and is essential to maintaining the health of our environment and our own quality of life.

Industry is only one source of water pollution. Other sources include sewage treatment plants, households, streets and footpaths.

Sediment and soil erosion from building and development sites are major sources of water pollution.

Individuals pollute water by littering (including cigarette butts), pouring oils down drains, washing cars, cleaning paint brushes and using chemicals on their gardens. These pollutants (prescribed water contaminants) are then washed or blown into stormwater drains and local waterways, causing harm to natural ecosystems and reducing the quality of the water essential for use by people and industry.

Under the Environmental Protection Act 1994 it is an offence (whether wilfully or unwilfully) to:

• deposit a prescribed water contaminant into stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways
• deposit a prescribed water contaminant in a place where it could potentially wash, blow, fall or move into stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways
• release stormwater run-off which results in the build-up of earth in stormwater drains, roadside gutters or waterways.

Offences may include an on-the-spot fine to the value of 15 penalty units (individual) or up to 75 penalty units (corporation) or prosecution.

Council investigates most water pollution incidents under the Environmental Protection Act 1994. Council only has jurisdiction to investigate certain complaints, and shares the responsibility of investigating and enforcing water pollution issues with other government agencies. Please refer to the complaints and enforcement information on this page which identifies the agency responsible for various water pollution incidents.