Improving stormwater - what you can do

Water Services - Stormwater

Improving stormwater - what you can do
Takapuna library rain tank

Know your responsibilities
Site planning: stormwater considerations
Environmentally friendly stormwater options

Know your responsibilities

Your responsibilities in regard to stormwater are set out in the North Shore City Stormwater Bylaw. The bylaw helps protect people, property, and the environment by minimising the impact of flooding, erosion and environmental pollution resulting from stormwater. To make a real difference everyone needs to take responsibility for the stormwater on their property.

Stormwater Bylaw

Site planning

If you are a builder or developer, or a howeowner making changes to your property, it is important to consider the effects of your building project on the stormwater system. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Could your development cause a stormwater problem?

Does an overland stormwater flow path exist, and where does this water flow now?
Could your development block an overland flow path with proposed buildings, walls, fences and landscaping?
If you build in a stormwater flow path is there an alternative path available for the water? Are you sure it will not affect your development, for example, will the water run into your basement?
What happens if your stormwater disposal option is inadequate or blocks, for example, pipes, catchpits and soakage areas etc. Have you planned an alternative?
Will your development increase stormwater flows and cause adverse impacts on existing stormwater systems and adjacent properties?

2. Is your building going to be flooded?

What is the expected storm return period that will affect your proposal?
Is your habitat or non-habitable floor space likely to be affected, and what height does it need to be built at to deal with these likely flood events?
Where will sewer gullies be located relative to stormwater runoff areas? (They should be at a level that stormwater can't enter).
Have you checked North Shore City Council's hazard maps?

3. Your vehicle crossing

Is your vehicle crossing located at a low point?
Will the lip or the shape of the vehicle crossing be high enough to stop stormwater from the road flowing onto your site?

4. Auckland Regional Council consents

Will you need to improve the quality of the stormwater your development generates before you discharge it?

5. Quality of stormwater discharge

Will you need to improve the quality of the stormwater your development generates before you discharge it?

For advice on any of these questions call North Shore City Actionline on 486 8600 and ask for a stormwater engineer.

Environmentally friendly stormwater options

We encourage you to adopt environmentally friendly stormwater practices in and around your home. Environmentally friendly options include:

Using rainwater
Reducing run-off
Planting with stormwater in mind
Caring for open water ways

(stormwater options flash movie)

Improving stormwater quality

You can help us to improve stormwater quality in North Shore City by observing the following:

Use your car as little as possible as vehicles contribute to beach and stream pollution - instead use public transport, cycle or walk where you can.
Wash your car on the grass so that chemicals do not drain into the sea.
Use a porous paving instead of concrete and asphalt - this reduces stormwater runoff.
Stormwater flows downhill so site your home and garden with this in mind
Collect rainwater and use it to irrigate your garden, wash your car and other outdoor uses.
Use litter bins - don't drop cigarette butts, soft drink bottles and other litter into stormwater drains.
Do not tip or leak paint or other contaminants into the stormwater system.
Do not dump your grass clippings into the stormwater channels on the road.
Report pollution events immediately to our Actionline on 486 8600 or Auckland Regional Council's Enviroline on 366 2155.

Takapuna library rain tank Porous paving Planting with stormwater in mind