Signage for water sensitive urban design (WSUD) assets

Overview

As part of our Development Control Plan (BDCP) - Part J, there is a requirement to submit details of the layout and text for a WSUD sign.  The details of the sign are to be approved prior to the release of the construction certificate. 

The sign is to be fabricated and placed adjacent to the devices and installed prior to occupation.  Larger sites with multiple treatment systems, may require multiple signs. A sign is not required for development sites requiring temporary on-site water quality treatment. 

A WSUD sign is not required for a site with just a single WSUD system, but for 2 or more WSUD systems together, for example an OSD system plus a rainwater tank. This signage applies to all scales of development.

The safety regulatory signage for these systems is provided in our WSUD standard drawing A(BS)175M sheet 20.

Purpose

The sign will assist Council's WSUD Compliance Officer with identifying the elements of the water quality treatment in relation to the site layout. The sign will help the occupants and visitors to the site understand the components and functions of these devices that protect our waterways. Signage is useful for maintenance purposes and in the event of a chemical spill or a flood event. 

Location

Signs should be located where the messages are legible, attract attention and are clearly visible to all concerned.

Signs should be located near the front of the property, or adjacent to the device.

Signs should not be erected in hazardous locations, for example: those projecting into passageways at such heights that persons, vehicles or mobile plant may strike them.

Signs should not be placed on moveable objects such as doors, windows or racks where a change in position would void the purpose of the sign or cause it to be out of sight. This does not apply to signs intended to be portable or moveable.

The sign mounting location should remain accessible and visible. The possibility that the sign may become obscured by stacked materials or other visual obstructions should be minimised.

Sign visibility will be enhanced if a contrast exists between the predominant colour of the sign and that of its immediate surroundings.

External or internal illumination of signs should be considered where the general lighting (either natural or artificial) does not provide for adequate visibility of signs.

For maximum effectiveness, signs should be maintained in good condition and kept clean.

Size

On complex sites with multiple devices a larger sign may be required to give clarity.

A guide for appropriate minimum sizing is:

• A2 for a site up to 2,000 square metres

• A1 for a site up to 10,000 square metres

• A0 for a site greater than 10,000 square metres.

Font 

All text must be in Arial font type. The font size should be scaled in relation to the size of the sign, so that the text is clearly legible from 2 metres away.

Materials

The material chosen for the sign should be suitable for the environmental conditions it will be exposed to, with appropriate mounting conditions for its location.

Appropriate materials include:

• Aluminium sheeting (reflective) minimum 2 millimetres. Front face to be 'Retro reflective' (honeycomb style) Class 1. In line with AS/NZS 1906.1. Image and message to be screen printed.

• Aluminium sheeting (high security) minimum 0.9 millimetres, marine grade. Front face to be 2 millimetre polymer resin: high impact, anti-flammable, anti-graffiti, non-yellowing, total UV protective covering. Print media to be tefalite printable graphics with long-life inks.

• Polypropylene minimum 1.4 millimetres thick, UV stabilised using recycled material.

Mounting conditions

• If fixing to a wall use hilti chemsets or epoxy. 

• If fixing to a pole, all bolt and bracket fixtures must be corrosion resistant.

Layout

• Provide a street address as the title, plus a description such as school or aged care centres name.

• Indicate street names of adjacent roads on layout.

• Include a North point.

• Include the treatment train as a pictorial layout, showing devices and their linkages with the drainage system.

• Include a coloured legend with corresponding colours for each device marked up on the sign. 

• Use standard wording (see information below) for each device.

• Quote this wording at the bottom of the sign 'The maintenance of these assets is the responsibility of the landholder. For further information search 'WSUD at blacktown.nsw.gov.au'

• Do not include the Blacktown City Council logo or the proprietary device supplier’s logo

Standard wording for devices

The following is standard text for specific devices. In addition to the wording, the sign is to incorporate a section-through or schematic of each device. This should preferably be in colour to aid understanding.

Proprietary manufacturer's websites often contain examples to use.

First flush diverter

A first flush diverter captures the initial runoff from the roof and discharges it safely away to limit pollutants entering the rainwater tank.

Rainwater tank

A rainwater tank captures and stores roof water so that it can be re-used on-site for toilet flushing, car washing, general wash down and irrigation.

This water is not suitable for drinking.

Taps using this rainwater should be marked with a sign similar to this.

Stormwater tank

A stormwater tank is below ground. It captures and stores stormwater so that it can be re-used on-site for irrigation. The tank has pumps and a water treatment system. This water is from a variety of sources and is not suitable for drinking.

Taps using this stormwater should be marked with a sign similar to this.

Bioretention basin

A bioretention basin (also called a raingarden) improves the quality of stormwater running off the site through settlement, filtration and biological processes. Stormwater will pond on the surface after the storm for 1-4 hours before infiltrating through the filter material. Healthy dense surface vegetation improves stormwater treatment.

On-site stormwater detention (OSD)

On-site stormwater detention (OSD) is the temporary storage and controlled release of stormwater generated from a site. OSD reduces flood risk and provides environmental protection to our local waterways.  These systems should be dry except during and immediately after rain.

Note: OSD systems should display this signage.

Rocla CDS GPT

The Rocla CDS (continuous deflective separation) gross pollutant trap, is a below ground system, designed to catch oils, coarse sediment, litter, debris and other larger pollutants conveyed within the stormwater drainage network.

For more information www.rocla.com.au

OceanSave GPT

The OceanSave gross pollutant trap, is a below ground system, designed to catch oils, course sediment, litter, debris and other larger pollutants conveyed within the stormwater drainage network.

For more information www.oceanprotect.com.au

Vortceptor GPT 

The Vortceptor gross pollutant trap, is a below ground system, designed to catch oils, course sediment, litter, debris and other larger pollutants conveyed within the stormwater drainage network.

This device must only be cleaned by a suction truck.

For more information www.spel.com.au

HumeGard GPT

This below ground system captures and retains litter, oils and coarse sediments from the stormwater drainage network, minimising pollution entering our local waterways.

For more information www.humes.com.au

Ocean Protect OceanGuard^® pit litter baskets

The OceanGuard has a filter bag and sits within the drainage pit. It captures and retains debris and litter before it enters the drainage system.

For more information www.oceanprotect.com.au

SPEL StormSack pit litter baskets

The StormSack has a filter bag and sits within the drainage pit. It captures and retains debris and litter before it enters the drainage system. 

For more information www.spel.com.au

Humes HumeCeptor^®

The HumeCeptor sits below ground and removes oils, silt and sediments from the stormwater before it enters the drainage system.

For more information www.humes.com.au

SPEL Stormceptor

The Stormceptor sits below ground and captures and retains sediments, gross pollutants and oils from stormwater before it enters the drainage system.

For more information www.spel.com.au

Ocean Protect VortSentry HS

The VortSentry HS sits below ground and uses a helical flow pattern that provides removal of sediment, gross pollutants and oils. Cleaning is by suction truck. 

For more information www.oceanprotect.com.au/vortsentry-hs

Ocean Protect StormFilter^™

The StormFilter uses cartridges, housed in an underground concrete tank, to capture sediments, nutrients and oils from stormwater before it enters the drainage system.

These cartridges must only be maintained by Ocean Protect.

For more information www.oceanprotect.com.au

SPEL Bayfilter

The SPEL Bayfilter uses filter cartridges, housed in an underground tank, to capture nutrients, fine sediments and oils from stormwater before it enters the drainage system. 

These cartridges must only be maintained by SPEL.

 For more information www.spel.com.au

Ocean Protect Jellyfish^® Filter

The Jellyfish is a below ground device that captures fine sediment, nutrients and oils from stormwater before it enters the drainage system.

These filters must only be maintainedby Ocean Protect.

For more information  www.oceanprotect.com.au

SPEL Puraceptor

The Puraceptor is a below ground device that captures oils and is designed to capture and retain oil spills preventing discharge into the drainage system.  

For more information  www.spel.com.au

Wetland

Wetlands are vegetated water bodies that provide flood storage and pollutant removal through settling and biological processes. Wetlands improve biodiversity by providing habitat for native flora and fauna.

Please do not enter the water.

Pond

Ponds are open water bodies that provide flood storage and pollutant removal through settling and biological processes. Ponds improve biodiversity by providing habitat for native flora and fauna.

Please do not enter the water.

Sediment basin

Sediment basins trap stormwater allowing sediment to settle out before discharge into the stormwater drainage system.

Please do not enter the water.

Sediment trap or silt trap

Sediment traps, or silt traps treat stormwater by allowing sediment to settle out before discharge into the stormwater drainage system. 

Indicative layout

Please find attached an example layout.