MEDIA RELEASE
March 5, 2012

Painters reminded to keep it clean and out of the stream

Painters and homeowners around Christchurch are being urged to do the right thing when they clean paintbrushes or dispose of left-over paint to avoid polluting local streams and rivers.

“Water from outside drains and stormwater grates flows untreated into streams,” said Kim Drummond, Environment Canterbury’s Director of Resource Management.

Environment Canterbury has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the direct link between outside drains and local streams.

The campaign targets all painters – whether professionals or DIY masters – and includes radio advertising, point-of-sale posters and pamphlets, and information on websites and Facebook.

“If paintbrushes are washed into outside drains the contaminants will end up in local waterways and impact on water quality and stream ecosystems, as well as causing unsightly pollution.

“Paintbrushes should preferably be washed on the lawn or in the garden. If the paint is water-based and no other options are available it is acceptable to wash one and only one brush a day in the laundry tub.

Businesses are being encouraged to develop waste management plans to assist employees of the correct disposal methods for all waste in order to mitigate their risk.

“We have talked with local contractors and DIY painters and found there is a willingness to ensure good practice and people want to know what to do.

“As a result we are working to increase awareness around good paintbrush washing practices as well as the disposal of left-over paint.

“When water based paint from brushes or rollers is washed under a hose on the lawn or garden the paint is absorbed and broken down in the soil. Washwater from the laundry tub is treated via the city’s sewage system.”

There are more than 400 waterways that feed in to the Avon River / Ōtākaro, and Heathcote River / Ōpāwaho. The water and other material collected in gutters and storm-water drains go untreated directly in to waterways

Kim Drummond said small discharges from hundreds of households could poison the streams that feed Christchurch’s two main rivers.

“Thousands of houses are being painted as part of the Christchurch rebuild and it’s important to tackle this issue now and ensure our local waterways are protected as much as possible.

“The chemicals in paint and the solvents used to clean paintbrushes can be toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms.”

The Environment Canterbury campaign will include print and radio advertising as well as information brochures and information on these website; http://www.facebook.com/ChristchurchCleanWaterways ; http://www.ecan.govt.nz ; http://www.cleanwaterways.org.nz .

Environment Canterbury is also working with paint manufacturers and suppliers to include information stickers on the lids of paint cans to remind people the best way to wash their paintbrushes.

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