The City of Melbourne is responsible for an extensive network of underground drains that prevent stormwater run-off from impacting on property, footpaths and roads. The City of Melbourne monitors drainage flows, litter volume and pipe capacity in an effort to ensure the effects of flash flooding are minimised.
Litter traps
Did you know that up to three billion pieces of litter (approximately 2000 to 3000 tonnes) are washed into Melbourne’s waterways through stormwater drains every year? Almost all the litter on our beaches comes from suburban streets!
To protect waterways from litter, the City of Melbourne has installed three different types of litter traps throughout the city’s drainage system to help prevent litter entering the Yarra and the Bay:
- Huge underground litter traps weigh several tonnes, are designed and constructed in parts and take several weeks to install.
- Trash racks which trap litter behind a large metal grate and release nets attached to the end of pipes. Both devices are located at the end point of drains to catch litter just before the stormwater is discharged directly into the Yarra or other waterways.
There are currently more than 20 litter traps throughout the City of Melbourne which are checked and emptied regularly.
The City of Melbourne will continue to install and maintain litter traps to reduce litter and improve the quality of the water washing from our streets into the Yarra River, Moonee Ponds Creek, Maribyrnong River and Port Phillip Bay.
What you can do
Many people don’t realise that water in drains on roads, streets and laneways feed straight into the Yarra River and Port Phillip Bay. Unlike the sewerage system, there is no treatment process for stormwater. When it rains, anything on the ground will get washed down the drain and into our waterways. You can help to help keep our waterways clean by keeping the following items off the ground and out of our drains:
- Litter – use the many Litter and recycling bins around the city
- Cigarette butts – butt them out and put them in a bin
- Oils – For small amounts of oil, seal them in a container and put them in the bin. If you run a business and have large amounts of oil, there are several companies who will collect your oil for recycling.
- Mopping up water – it’s better to tip dirty water containing detergents down the sink where it will be treated in the sewerage system instead of contaminating creeks and rivers by pouring it down the drain. Water containing safe detergents can be used on your garden.
Help us keep the city running smoothly
Please report any blocked or flooding stormwater drains or any problems with a connection from a private property into a Council drain, to the City of Melbourne on (03) 9658 9658 or Contact us online.
Please report all problems with blocked sewers or burst water mains or leaking fire hydrants to the local water company: City West Water on 13 16 91 (north of the Yarra River) and South East Water (south of the Yarra River) on 13 9283.