Stormwater
The City Council provides a stormwater system that is designed to protect the citizens of Palmerston North and their properties from flooding to the standards required by the community.
This includes providing a piped stormwater drainage system from properties and roadways; maintaining and upgrading open waterways, ponding areas and pump stations.
Stormwater system overview
Palmerston North is serviced by separate drainage systems for sewage and stormwater run-off. The stormwater drainage system has developed over the past 100 years in a form typical of most other New Zealand towns and cities. A system of stormwater pipes collect stormwater runoff from roads and from private properties (run-off from driveways and roofs of buildings) discharging to the road channel, and transport the stormwater to the nearest watercourse.
Protecting our streams
Where do stormwater drains lead?
The stormwater drains from your house and the drains in the road gutter empty into underground stormwater systems. Their contents are quickly discharged into nearby waterways, streams and the Manawatu River. Unlike the domestic wastes collected by foul water sewers, the contents of stormwater drains are not treated prior to their discharge into a stream or waterway.
Are you polluting a stream?
Many people do not realize that hazardous household waste products that they wash or dump into these drains and house downpipes discharge directly to local waterways. Oils, detergents, paint compounds, solvents, pesticides, and many other common household products often end up in streams. Most of these contain chemicals that are toxic to fish, and many small discharges from numerous sources can poison streams and rivers.
Do not pour anything into a stormwater drain that could be toxic to wildlife.
Common household products hazardous to fish
- Paints and Solvents
- Pesticides
- Motor Oil
- Antifreeze
- Diesel
- Petrol
- Washing detergent
- Degreasers
- Disinfectants
- Drain and toilet cleaners
- Dry cleaning agents
- Household cleaners