EPA Victoria officers will conduct snap inspections at businesses around Werribee this week, in a campaign to protect waterways, creeks and beaches from pollution.
EPA Western Metropolitan Regional Manager Steve Lansdell says every business must work on prevention and manage environmental risks from accidents and bad habits on its worksite.
"What goes into stormwater drains goes direct to waterways and beaches - don't be the business that is responsible for a public health emergency or expensive cleanup," Mr Lansdell said.
"By acting on prevention, you protect the community - don't taint their beach, creek or park, and don't kill off the wildlife in their wetland."
EPA officers have targeted nearly 400 businesses across Victoria so far, with advice, regulatory notices, fines and follow up visits to make sure hazards are fixed and advice followed.
Most businesses are ready to cooperate, and the typical issues are often easily spotted and easily fixed:
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Inadequate liquid storage, handling and disposal of waste to prevent waste from entering stormwater drains
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Lack of secondary containment measures (e.g. bunding) to trap spills before going into stormwater drains
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Vehicle washing water going to stormwater drains
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Lack of spill kits to clean up any waste before it can pollute stormwater drains
"Some stormwater pollution is from incidents – a rainstorm causing an overflow or an accidental spill – but some of it is from faults in everyday work that gradually foul the environment," Mr Lansdell said.
"Only rain should go into the stormwater drain. Even what looks like harmless wastewater from vehicle washing should go to the sewerage system since it often contains traces of waste or the chemicals used in the business," he said.
Under Victoria's environment protection laws, all businesses have a general environmental duty (GED) to reduce risk to human health and the environment.
Anyone can report pollution, EPA typically receives 20,000 reports a year from members of the public.
Calls can be anonymous, and EPA's hotline is there 24 hours a day on 1300 372 842. You can also report pollution online at www.epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/reporting-pollution
EPA has plenty of information and resources for businesses on how to meet their obligations at epa.vic.gov.au/for-business/find-your-industry
