Reduce your impact on nature

Nature and Water use and pollution

Water is central to all living systems on earth. Humans rely on access to good quality and sufficient water to live, grow food and produce products and materials. Animals, plants and the habitats they live in also rely on water for survival. 

Aotearoa New Zealand is blessed with freshwater resources. However, many of our rivers are polluted and not fit for swimming. This has been caused by both urban and rural land use and practices. We have a collective duty to look after our water resources. Responsible water use and treatment will help reduce impacts on nature and maintain natural systems.

Water is a critical resource for business. The way water is used by a business and the effects it has are as varied as the businesses themselves. There are many actions you can do to look at water use and make improvements which will help regenerate nature.

How your business can take action

1. Reduce your water use

• Check out Watercare’s guide Be Waterwise for Businesses and Organisations.
• Check out the Water Footprint Network for good information about how much water is needed to produce different products.

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2. Prevent pollution from entering waterways

Your site office sits within a catchment. The rain that falls, flows across your site and into stormwater drains or streams that eventually meet the ocean. They carry litter and pollution all the way to the sea.

There are steps you can take to reduce pollution:

• Install a pollution control device (or ‘Litter Trap’) in your site's stormwater drains.
• Install swales Swales are shallow trenches dug across slopes to retain water , detention ponds or rain gardens to filter pollutants. 
• Install sustainable wastewater management systems.
• Ensure your roofing material is in stable condition and/or painted.
• Fit your vehicle fleet with low copper brake pads to reduce the amount of heavy metals washing into waterways.
• Do not discharge contaminated water/liquids into stormwater drains.

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3. Replant waterways with native plants and trees

Planting waterways with native plants and trees can help stop pollution, especially eroding soil (sediment), from getting into our waterways. Support or get involved in planting native bush along waterways and wetlands to prevent further pollution and sediment flowing into the sea.

Learn more about SBN's projects that are restoring native vegetation along the banks of waterways below.