Household chemicals
Household chemicals (including lubricants, paints, preservatives,
solvents, cleansers, and insecticides) that enter a waterway through storm
runoff after being poured onto the ground or into a gutter can harm platypus
by fouling their fur or poisoning their invertebrate prey. Such products
should also never be poured down a household drain or toilet - these normally
lead to a septic system or water treatment plant, neither of which is designed
to completely eradicate dangerous chemicals. In the case of septic systems,
toxic chemicals can actually destroy the bacteria which are meant to break
down waste in the system.
Instead, check with your local council for advice on
how chemical products can be recycled or disposed of properly. As well, use
the minimum amount of chemicals needed to get the job done, and always consider
whether there may be a less toxic or non-toxic alternative - for instance,
clearing blocked drains with a metal "snake" instead of chemical agents.
Salinity
While platypus are occasionally seen in the tidal reaches
of rivers, they are basically adapted to live in freshwater environments.
For example, it has been suggested that the platypus electro-receptor system
may not function very effectively in highly saline water. Inputs of salt
can drastically alter the ecology of streams, lakes and rivers, with many
species of freshwater invertebrates unable to tolerate saline conditions.
In particular, the productivity of pool habitats is likely to be reduced
substantially by high salinity levels, because salty water is both denser
and holds less dissolved oxygen than fresh water. Accordingly, controlling
dryland salinity is an important priority for the long-term conservation
of platypus.
Nutrient enrichment
The addition of even small amounts of organic nitrogen
and phosphorus to water bodies can be extremely damaging to the biological
health of the system, leading to depleted oxygen levels and in some cases
the proliferation of toxic blue-green algae. Nutrient enrichment is often
the most serious water quality problem downstream of where people live,
including areas of low density housing in bush settings. To help tackle
the problem, consider whether you can do a better job with respect to any
of the following:
* Use only low phosphate or phosphate-free detergents
to wash dishes and clothes - and measure the amount added to washing machines
so as not to use more than is needed.
* Wash your car on the lawn to prevent detergent
from running directly into the gutter.
* Maintain an effective home septic system - don't overload
the system (for example, by doing too many loads of washing in one day)
and ensure that the tank gets cleaned out every few years by a reputable
contractor.
* Apply chemical fertilizer to lawns or crops sparingly
and at the proper time of year, so it's absorbed efficiently by growing
plants.
* Use compost (ideally made by recycling your own kitchen
and garden waste) instead of chemical fertilizer whenever possible.
* Manage livestock access to natural waterways in order
to eliminate (or at least minimise) the amount of animal waste entering
the aquatic system directly or through runoff.