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Pollution Control Devices
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Pollution Control Devices (PCDs) are one of the ways that Bankstown Council is protecting our local waterways.
Stormwater treatment measures such as PCDs are incorporated in a water-course usually at the top or mid-way down the system. They are designed to intercept specific pollutants such as litter, oil, sediment and other materials that run off from local roads and into our stormwater system - which ultimately ends up in our creeks and rivers. These treatment measures therefore help to improve water quality, visual amenity and habitat values of downstream areas for our local wildlife.
Below is an outline of the different types of PCDs and how they are used to protect our local environment from pollutants. Each device is effective for different types of pollutants. All devices are cleaned and maintained on a needs basis for optimum efficiency, either monthly, quarterly, biannually or annually. Council also has an Officer that investigates and coordinates the response to urgent pollution incidents such as oil and chemical spills.
View a map of the PCDs in the Bankstown LGA.
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Boom 
A boom is a floating barrier angled across the water course, which is designed to collect litter and retain oil. Because they float on top of the water surface, booms are effective in high (e.g. during a storm) or low flows. Bankstown Council is currently using 10 booms to control litter and oil in local waterways.
Trash Racks 
Trash racks are a type of barrier used to trap litter and organic matter. The litter that is trapped can be large or small including everything from syringes to tyres. Water from the creek is diverted, often by concrete weirs, through the device, which looks a bit like a fence or sometimes a cage. There are currently 22 trash racks in use in Bankstown's waterways.
Macrophyte Bed 
Macrophyte beds are beds of aquatic plants used to promote the removal of nutrients from stormwater by exploiting plants' natural uptake of important nutrients like Phosphorus and Nitrogen, which are necessary for plant growth. Water slowly trickles through the plants, allowing excessive nutrients to be removed, sediments to drop out from suspension and organic matter to be retained. We currently have five constructed macrophyte beds in Bankstown, and several other self-established macrophyte beds in both concrete and natural channels.
Gross Pollutant Traps 
There are many different types of gross pollutant traps (GPTs) but they all provide a filter for stormwater as they collect litter, oil, organic matter and sediment. In Bankstown, many of our GPTs are deep concrete structures into which water is diverted by a weir. The water is slowed down causing suspended sediments to drop out of the water and floating litter and oils to be trapped inside the GPT. These devices often contain baskets or other removable receptacles to allow easy cleaning of the system. There are currently 23 GPTs installed across Bankstown.
Artificial Wetland 
Bankstown has constructed artificial wetlands in our local area as a means of pollution control. Artificial wetlands are bodies of water that are designed to have a series of different depths to encourage aquatic plants to occupy shallow areas and allow sediments to settle out of suspension in deeper waters. These wetlands are used to retain sediments, nutrients (via plant uptake) and organic matter, preventing them from entering downstream areas. One artificial wetland has been constructed in Bankstown to date.
Lake
Lakes can also be considered a pollution control device of sorts as they retain and filter sediments and nutrients from stormwater. Unfortunately, this function also produces ideal conditions for weed growth and algal blooms. This can be common in urban water bodies, particularly in summer periods when there is reduced rainfall and flushing, and increased temperatures. There are 19 lakes in Bankstown.
Sediment/Pollution Control Pond 
Pollution control ponds are artificial water bodies that are used to contain pollution before it enters our rivers or the more sensitive areas of our waterways. These systems are used to filter out oil, chemicals, nutrients and sediments by slowing down the water and preventing the entry of these pollutants into downstream areas. Plants in the ponds can be used as an effective means of removing excess nutrients from stormwater. There are currently 6 sediment and pollution control ponds in Bankstown.
Oil & Grit Separator 
An oil and grit separator is a barrier above the water surface that is operational during normal stormwater flow. It is designed to draw clean water below the surface so that oil and other surfactants are retained behind the barrier for removal or treatment. There is currently one oil and grit separator in Bankstown's catchments.
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