Colder, wetter weather is a feature of a Victorian winter and most parts of the state have seen at least some rainfall over the past month.
But rain after prolonged dry periods also brings an increased risk of exposed soil being washed off farms and construction sites potentially causing environmental issues for our waterways.
Rainfall picks up areas of bare soil creating sediment. Construction sites in particular should anticipate this and take preventative measures to contain sediment and stop it escaping.
“We all have to act to prevent harm to the pollution, and a sediment run off creates a pollution risk,” EPA executive director operations Rachel Gualano said.
“Sediment can overburden our waterways, reducing water quality potentially harming wildlife.
“It’s not enough to say that heavy rain wasn’t expected; it’s predictable and should be planned for. EPA has guidance on how to reduce the risk of sediment run off and we actively enforce regulations, even issuing fines where we felt that more should reasonably have been done to manage the risk of pollution.”
For more information on erosion, sediment and the law, EPA has information Erosion and Sediment.
