Save the drain for rain

There are two sets of drains under our feet  -  stormwater drains and sanitary sewers

Sanitary sewers take the waste from inside our houses - kitchens, toilets, bathrooms and laundries - to a sewage treatment plant.

However anything that flows off driveways, roads and down gutters - goes directly into stormwater drains and ends up untreated in our streams, harbours and beaches.

View the results and pictures from the 2008 Save the Drain for Rain competition.

Actions you can take

How to keep Auckland's waterways clean:

• wash your vehicle on the grass or take it to a carwash
• make sure your downpipes are connected correctly
• take hazardous waste to the Hazmobile
• don't wash paintbrushes over gutters
• paint your roof to stop zinc run-off from galvanised roofing iron
• dont use copper in roofing and spouting materials as it is harmful to aquatic life
• if you see any water pollution or dead fish or eels in a stream, harbour, or at the beach call the 24 Hour Pollution Hotline on 09 377 3107
• National Water Awareness campaign.

What is the ARC doing?

Our Pollution Control Team operates the Water Pollution Hotline. They clean up and monitor spills, and proactively educate industries on how to prevent pollution. Unfortunately, sometimes they have to take legal action against polluters.

The ARC runs the Hazmobile in conjunction with the city and district councils. This mobile hazardous waste collection service visits different areas of the region on weekends to pick up hazardous waste free of charge.

The ARC Stormwater Action Programme was launched in 2005 to tackle the region's stormwater issues.