A gross pollutant trap (GPT) installed in a stormwater drain near Mullum Mullum Creek late last year has been doing a great job in removing refuse from the waterway, judging by what was found when it was cleaned out recently.
Councillor Neil Rose, who is the Municipal Association of Victoria representative on the Victorian Stormwater Advisory Committee, attended the clean out and was impressed at just how effective the GPT has been.
“Almost four tonnes of material was removed from the trap, comprising mostly leaf and vegetation litter and sediment but with a significant amount of rubbish, including plastic containers, aluminium cans, and pieces of polystyrene,” Councillor Rose said.
Installed by CDS Technologies just off Maroondah Highway in Ringwood, Victoria the trap captures litter and waste and prevents it reaching Mullum Mullum Creek. It was cleaned out in early May, the first time since its installation. Installation of the GPT was funded by Council and a grant through the Victorian Stormwater Action Program.
The stormwater drain captures residential and commercial runoff as well as runoff generated by a section of Maroondah Highway. Materials wash into the trap and are collected, allowing clean water to filter through the system and back into the stormwater drain.
“Although the GPT is necessary to keep our waterways clean, the best option is not to litter in the first place,” Councillor Rose said. “The GPT complements signs along Mullum Mullum Creek which remind people to prevent littering this beautiful natural environment.”
Other initiatives that complement the GPT include education programs with businesses and schools in the Mullum Mullum Creek catchment area, anti-litter campaigns and water quality monitoring of the creek.
