Stormwater

Keep our stormwater system clean - all pipes lead to our streams or the harbour.

Everything that goes into the stormwater system eventually ends up in our streams or in the harbour. Everyone in Wellington and Lower Hutt cities, property owner or not, shares a responsibility for keeping stormwater clean.

Tips for protecting drains at home

Gutters and down pipes - these should connect to stormwater drains. If connected to the wastewater system, sewage overflows can occur.

Building over drains - avoid building over your drains, it may interfere with future maintenance of the drains and cause damage to your building.

Garden beds - design garden beds to minimise water runoff and soil washing into the streets and drains.

Fertilisers and pesticides - minimise your use, these chemicals are easily washed off the garden by rainfall and into our waterways.

Gully trap - make sure your household gully trap is above ground level so rain doesn't flow into it, this can cause sewage overflows.

Footpaths and gutters - avoid putting litter or dog droppings in street gutters and drains, this can cause blockages, pollution problems and even local flooding.

Rubbish bins and recycling containers - make sure items are secure so they don't blow away or fall out and end up in the drains.

Planting trees - locate the position of your drains and identify suitable tree types before planting to avoid future drain blockages from tree roots.

Car cleaning - Wash the car on your lawn so water soaks into the ground or use a commercial car wash facility, which treats its wastewater or drains to the wastewater system.

Impervious surfaces - Discharge stormwater from impervious surfaces to gardens, lawns and rainwater planters.