Water pollutants As stormwater travels towards and through our creeks and rivers it collects and deposits many types of pollutants in our water environments. Fertilisers, detergents, animal faeces and decaying vegetation produce nutrients known as phosphates and nitrates. Road run-off can contain cigarette butts, litter and debris, heavy metals such as lead, zinc, copper, oil and grease. Leaf litter and lawn clippings can be a problem, and erosion from land, river and creeks creates sediment. Construction and renovation can be responsible for cement, lime, sand, bricks and paint.
Swimming pools have chlorine, and cleaning chemicals residue and solvents can be a problem.
Most of these pollutants bind to the soil sediment and other particles. This means 105 tonnes of sediment and 47 kilograms of phosphorus will not flow further downstream and out to sea. The removalists Wetlands such as Warriparinga have a multi-functional purpose. The natural wetland processes help to break down all other pollutants that pass through the traps. Upstream from the Wetland on Main South Road two continuous deflective separation units further assist with pollutant removal.