Stormwater is the water that runs off pavements, roads, roofs, gardens, parks, car parks, construction sites etc during rainfall. As stormwater water flows, it collects pollutants that are on these surfaces and washes them into our rivulets and stormwater systems.
When people put unwanted liquids, wastes and materials etc down the drain or on the roads, which can end up in our stormwater systems and then our beaches and waterways. This is an issue for not only humans, but also for aquatic animals. Animals can also detrimentally suffer from the result of people’s actions.
Examples of items that should not end up in the stormwater system include:
- litter of any kind
- paint
- soil
- dog poo
- oil
- cigarette butts
- detergents and chemicals
- soapy water from washing cars
- grass clippings and vegetation
- soil erosion from development sites
Groundwater
Groundwater is a natural occurrence where water soaks through the surface into the ground and flows, or is held, below ground until it finds an outlet.
Common locations where groundwater finds an outlet are in sub-surface basements, exposed excavations on residential properties in steep land, on hillsides with shallow bedrock, on the lower portions of steep land, or in low lying regions often following long periods of rainfall.
With shallow groundwater systems which operate normally under dry conditions, the soil strata above the groundwater layer can become saturated with evidence of a moist or boggy surface, or even water appearing on the surface.
Council is not responsible for groundwater and the municipality’s stormwater systems are generally not capable of collecting this sub-surface water phenomena.
If you suspect you have an issue with groundwater, it is recommended that you contact a licenced plumber.
Council Activity
Our staff investigate any reported problems with the stormwater system, including water sampling and physically removing items that we can. We also take water samples from our beaches throughout the summer months and swimming pools all year round, to monitor water quality for public safety. Any concerns raised from these samples are published on Council’s social media networks.
We also have officers on the Derwent Estuary Program (DEP) Stormwater Task Force, which representatives from Hobart’s regional councils, community groups and the Department of Environment (DPIWE).
The main objectives are to:
- Implement a coordinated stormwater monitoring program
- Prioritise stormwater management areas in the region
- Develop a ‘model’ Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) for councils to use as a template
- Share experience in stormwater management
- Assist in grant proposals for management initiatives
- Review stormwater management initiatives
There are a number of flood studies we have carried out in Kingborough. View the studies and the maps on our Flood Studies page.