POLICY FOR THE PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF
POLLUTION FROM STORMWATER
Version 1.0; June 2014
Purpose:
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that, to the extent practicable, pollution of the
environment caused by stormwater is prevented.
This policy provides the minimum requirements for the monitoring and reporting of
stormwater quality by Defence staff and contractors. The policy applies to all Defence
Establishments including Government Furnished Facilities operated by contractors on behalf
of Defence.
The key performance objective of this policy is to ensure stormwater off-site discharge or
onsite re-use does not result in a pollution event. The Defence National Environmental
Standard (DNES) for stormwater mandates the Defence requirements for management of
stormwater, including appropriate water quality trigger values.
Where full compliance with this policy cannot be assured, alternative methods must be
proposed and endorsed by the Technical Authority, the Assistant Secretary Engineering and
Environment.
Background
Stormwater is runoff from developed areas during natural rainfall events. It can also be
created during dry times through human activities such as wash down, garden watering and
leaking water pipes. Stormwater commonly contains contaminants and pollutants and can
consist of:
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Gross pollutants, such as cigarette butts, cans, food wrappers, plastic bags, paper and
other debris
Organic pollution, such as vegetative matter (leaves, garden clippings),
sediment/soil, animal faeces
Chemical pollution, such as fuel, solvents, heavy metals, AFFF or detergents,
nutrients and pesticides.
Stormwater pollution prevention focuses on appropriately managing water quality. This
requires periodic monitoring and reporting of stormwater quality at discharge points and
within the stormwater system, assessment of likely sources of stormwater pollution and
measures to reduce stormwater contaminant loadings. This must also be accompanied by
appropriate and management and reporting of any pollution incidents.
Regulatory Requirements
Legislation - Defence must comply with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) to prevent significant environmental impacts and must act
to prevent impacts upon Matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES). Where
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Defence activities have resulted in pollution of a state regulated environment, Defence must
comply with the relevant State or Territory environmental legislation and regulations.
Defence is also bound to implement all National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPM)
enacted by the Standing Committee on Water and the Environment (SCEW).
Stormwater Discharge Water Quality Guidelines – The Australian and New Zealand
Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality (ANZECC, 2000) have been adopted for
stormwater that discharges to waterways.
Responsibilities
Authority - The Assistant Secretary Engineering and Environment (ASEE) is the Technical
Authority for infrastructure engineering and environmental policy in Defence.
Implementation – The Senior Australian Defence Force Officer (SADFO) and Base Support
Manager (BSM) at each Defence Establishment are responsible for the implementation of this
policy at the site level. Senior Environmental Managers (SEM) and Regional Environmental
Officers (REO) will facilitate and advise on the implementation of the policy.
Management of Stormwater
The following requirements are mandated as the minimum to achieve effective stormwater
pollution management:
1. Elimination and/or minimisation of pollutant sources must be considered before
application of any further stormwater management measures
2. Stormwater must be conserved and reused to the extent practicable, cognisant of any
safety or human health implications of doing so
3. Stormwater must be isolated from the sewer system and vice-versa
4. Process effluents such as laboratory wastes, workshop wastes, trade wastes or vehicle
wash bay wastewater must not be permitted to pass into the stormwater system
5. Chemical or fuel spills must not be permitted to enter into the stormwater system
6. Where the opportunity exists, natural drainage systems, wetlands and riparian
vegetation areas can be incorporated into the stormwater system if no adverse impact
exists
7. Stormwater discharge quality must be representatively sampled and monitored for
relevant pollutants at an acceptable time period and will comply with the ANZECC
guidelines and/or relevant State/Territory regulatory requirements
8. Design briefs and project documents for stormwater management systems must
incorporate re-use and pollution prevention considerations. This must include
consideration of Water Sensitive Urban Development (WSUD) principles. Where
possible, buffer zones shall be created along waterways to protect and enhance their
potential as habitat corridors and assist the ecological functioning and sustainability of
local waterways.
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Reporting
All spills or incidents shall be reported to the line management and SEM/REO promptly.
Incident reports must be through environmentalincident@defence.gov.au in addition to local
arrangements. Where a large incident is concerned, the SEM is to assess whether the incident
is likely to affect offsite environments, and whether the incident should be reported to State
environment authorities.
Michael Healy
A/HEAD INFRASTRUCTURE
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