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Types of water infrastructure

What’s being built to help our waterways

The Healthy Waterways Program has delivered new infrastructure including:

  • wetlands
  • ponds
  • rain gardens
  • waterway restoration
  • gross pollutant traps (GPTs).

Wetlands

Wetlands use reeds, grasses and other plants soak up nutrients in water. They also slow down water, which helps to stop dirt and mud from flowing into our lakes and rivers.

Ponds

Ponds help to catch stormwater and settle the dirt and mud in the water by slowing it down. Ponds are also great for storing water to use later. They help keep the water clean, giving sunlight time to reduce the number of harmful bacteria and viruses.

Rain gardens

Rain gardens are specially designed garden beds with absorbent, free-draining soil, planted with vegetation that can withstand temporary flooding. They’re a useful option when space is limited. Find out about rain gardens and how you can build your own.

Waterway restoration

Waterway restoration is about making stormwater drains, creeks and streams healthy again. It involves adding plants to waterways and changing the flow of water. This prevents erosion and the dirty run-off from our cities from flowing into our lakes and rivers. Restoring waterways also provides a habitat for native plants and animals.

Gross pollutant traps

Gross pollutant traps (GPTs) are structures that remove a range of pollutants from the waterways. These include rubbish, coarse sediments, litter and some soils. They're the first line of defence in treating stormwater, especially in places with more litter. Many ACT Healthy Waterways projects use GPTs to keep our water clean.

Concerns about mosquitoes and waterways

People often worry that building new wetlands or ponds will bring more mosquitoes.

After wetlands are built, the amount of mosquitoes stays the same. As the wetlands age and they become a home for more plants and animals, and the number of mosquitoes decrease.

Rain gardens only fill up with water during a big rain storm, the water drains away within a few hours. This isn't enough time for mosquitoes to lay eggs and hatch.

While mosquitoes usually need water to breed, building wetlands, ponds, or rain gardens won't always lead to more mosquitoes. Mosquitoes may be a problem when there's standing water in places like backyard ponds or neglected pools.