Judea businesses are being told to take steps to reduce stormwater run-off following recent inspections.

The August audit shows that most sites have a good understanding of stormwater issues and are taking steps to manage their environmental effects.

Stormwater has been a problem in Birch Ave, as this 2011 picture shows.

The council's pollution prevention manager Nick Zaman says the audits focused on all businesses in the estate where stormwater runoff enters the Kopurererua Stream, Waikareao Estuary and Tauranga Harbour.

A total of 157 street addresses, many with multiple business premises, were visited. There were 87 full stormwater audits, focusing on industrial processes, outdoor activities and stormwater drainage discharges.

The 70 other addresses are considered to be at low risk of discharging contaminated stormwater due to the type of activities involved.

One common issue is businesses washing vehicles outside, with wash water discharging directly to stormwater, says Nick.

Several businesses, including automotive wreckers, a concrete batching plant, some spray painters, sand blasting booths and automotive workshops already have Regional Council discharge consents.

Following the inspections, solutions are discussed with managers and staff where issues are identified.

'Overall, potential issues were minor and would generally be easy for business owners to fix,” says Nick.

They include a lack of spill response kits in some automotive workshops, storing fuels, oils and detergents outdoors, no bunded storage areas for hazardous chemicals and vehicle washdown areas draining to stormwater.

Also included are wood or stone cutting and sanding outdoors with insufficient dust controls and a lack of trade waste connections and consents for process water discharge.

All the businesses received recommendations to reduce the risk of contaminant discharges, and some are required to take remedial action and report back to the Regional Council by the end of November. Only one business is likely to require a consent as a result of the audits.

Businesses washing vehicles have been asked not to use detergents and wash on grassed areas instead of paved areas which run off into stormwater drains. Follow up visits are planned to ensure advice is followed and remedial measures are implemented and working.

The Judea audits are part of a region-wide Industrial Pollution Prevention Programme which is now in its sixth year.

The Judea Industrial Estate was established on reclaimed swamp land, with several commercial timber mills operating there in the 1950s. The estate now supports a wide variety of industries and stormwater from the estate has the potential to directly affect Tauranga Harbour's water and sediment quality.