Speakers 

Narrator – N1 (Josh) 

[music] 

N1: I'm open. 

N1: Kick it to me. 

[sound of thunder] 

N1: Quick. 

N1: Get inside. 

N1: It's going to rain. 

N1: [sighs] 

N1: That was close. 

[Rain droplet appears] 

N1: Hey, Rain's made of water. 

N1: That's got to be good for our water supply. 

N1: Oh, oops. 

N1: Sorry. 

N1: Yeah, litter is pretty ugly, but what's that got to do with water? 

N1: Humans have altered the natural water cycle because of all the hard surfaces that we've built. 

N1: The rain hits these surfaces and bounces off instead of soaking into the soil. 

N1: So we need storm water drains to carry the excess water away from our homes and streets so they don't flood when it rains. 

N1: Usually, these massive pipes drain into wetlands and the sea. 

N1: So what's the difference between the drains in our homes and the drains in our streets? 

N1: Wastewater from your home goes through sewage pipes where it is treated and clean. 

N1: It's called wastewater, but it's actually not waste. 

N1: It's a really important resource. 

N1: It's important, but not when it's dirty. 

N1: The storm water pipe system and all the gross stuff washed into it is released untreated into the waterways. 

N1: No, ducky, you're going to get tangled in that. 

N1: Hey crabby, watch out for the rubbish. 

N1: All this gross stuff is polluting our waterways and makes our wildlife sick. 

N1: And not only that, but it means we can't go swimming in polluted water and we can forget about surfing. 

N1: I've got to do better now I know this. 

N1: First I'm going to reduce the amount of packaging I use and if I do create rubbish, I'll recycle it or put it in the bin and I pick up after my dog because it's not just annoying if you stand in it, it should be in the bit, otherwise our local wildlife gets tangled in the rubbish. 

N1: What else can you do to protect our waterways and wildlife? 

N1: I'm going to set you a look and learn Challenge. 

N1: You ready? 

N1: The next time it rains have a look at where the water goes. 

N1: Does it go down a drain in your street? 

N1: Where is the drain? 

N1: What's in the water as it runs down to the drain? 

N1: How is this drain different from the drains in your kitchen, sink or bathroom? 

N1: All right, well, I've got to go back and pick up my rubbish. 

N1: See ya.