As Victoria grows, so do the number of sealed surfaces like roofs and roads. Rainfall on these sealed surfaces becomes surface run-off, or urban stormwater.

Stormwater can carry pollutants into waterways, wetlands, beaches and bays. Large amounts of urban stormwater cause erosion and harm aquatic ecosystems.

Urban stormwater management requirements

There are various requirements to manage urban stormwater and minimise risks of harm to human health and the environment. There are requirements under the Environment Protection Act 2017, including:

• the general environmental duty (GED)
• in the Obligations of managers of land or infrastructure (urban stormwater management and on-site wastewater management) (OMLI )

There are also requirements under other legislation. This includes building, planning and water legislation. 

How to manage risks from urban stormwater

The Urban stormwater management guidance (publication 1739) provides important information that can help:

• understand the risks from urban stormwater
• improve the management of urban stormwater in Victoria.
• support the preventative focus of the GED
• minimise the risk of harm to human health and the environment through good environmental practice
• support the planning and design of new urban stormwater management systems.

The guidance:

• highlights the risk of how the creation of sealed (impervious) surfaces can cause to waterways and bays
• provides general objectives and information to support risk assessment and minimisation
• explains stormwater management for communities in Victoria.

CSIRO published the Urban stormwater best practice environmental guidelines (BPEM) in 1999.

Under the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPP) many developments must meet the BPEM objectives. This means they must reduce levels of certain substances compared to the typical urban annual load.

• suspended solids: 80 per cent
• phosphorus and nitrogen: 45 per cent
• litter: 70 per cent.

The Urban stormwater management guidance (publication 1739) adds to the state of knowledge. The state of knowledge includes all the information you should reasonably know about managing your risks. This may include information from: 

• find guidance for your industry  
• authorities like Melbourne Water
• guidance material  
• technical notes  
• outcomes from decisions we have made to enforce the law 
• specific advice for your business 
• universities 
• environmental engineers 
• integrated water management forums. 

Read more

• Obligations of managers of land or infrastructure
• Civil construction, building and demolition guide (publication 1834)
• Liquid storage and handling guidelines (publication 1698)
• Solid storage and handling guidelines (publication 1730)
• Construction - guide to preventing harm to people and the environment (publication 1820)
• Erosion and sediment advice for businesses.
• How to get the most out of your rainwater tank (Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action).
• Review of stormwater science (publication 1919)