Plea For Care Over Drain Waste
Motueka Golden Bay News 31 March 2005
A reminder not to put anything but rainwater down stormwater drains, for the sake of local waterways, was made in Motueka last week.
Red fish symbols and slogans announcing, "this drain is just for rain" were painted near stormwater grates around Motueka township by communityaction volunteers.
The action was taken to mark the beginning of a United Nations led intiative to secure access to safe water.
Communityaction is a group of environmental advocates aiming to raise awareness of the individual impact on the environment and ways of preventing further damage.
Group spokesman Duncan Eddy said the red fish were painted to remind locals and visitors that pollutants entering the eco-system via stormwater drains posed a big threat to environmental and individual health.
Stormwater drains go out to sea and river, so any rubbish that gets thrown in the street or pollutants that get poured down outside drains will end up in waterways." Mr Eddy said.
"Pollution of our waterways creates repurcussions throughout the entire food chain, and could deprive future generations of the opportnity to enjoy the beautiful waterways."
Communityaction volunteers also handed out free portable ashtrays to smokers in a bid to cut down on cigarette butt litter.
The action was taken to coincide with World Water Day, Tuesday March 22, which was part of the United Nations intiative to proclaim the next ten years an international decade for action to protect fresh water resources.