Changing your car’s oil on the front lawn may help your car run better, but there is a chance it could end up leaving a bad taste in your mouth.
Fuel and oil spills can infiltrate your underground plumbing pipes and affect the taste of your drinking water.
Redland City Council is reminding Redlands Coast residents during National Water Week 2025 that householders may be inadvertently compromising their own water supply.
Household plastic pipes laid underground can absorb chemicals (petrol, diesel, oil, turps, methylated spirits and some pesticides) if they are spilled or sprayed on the ground.
Do not drink the water if you believe this has occurred.
It is advisable to check with your neighbours to confirm if they are experiencing a similar taste or odour from their drinking water.
If the taste or odour is isolated to your property, you will need to contact a licensed plumber to assist in resolving this issue. If your neighbours are also experiencing the issue, call Council on 07 3829 8999.
Remember to be careful where you work on your car and to always use a drip tray or bucket large enough to catch spills, and be sure to dispose of motor oils correctly.
The same applies when parking boats on front lawns to work on engines with the added consideration that the weight of boats and other vehicles has the potential to damage underground pipes.
How to safely dispose of motor oil and petrol:
- Residents can recycle their waste motor oil (maximum of 20 litres per visit) free of charge at any of the city’s recycling and waste centres, except Karragarra and Lamb islands.
- Oil can be decanted on site and the container taken home or disposed of in general waste bins. Do not place them in your household yellow-lidded recycle bin as engine oil containers are not recyclable and other bottles may still contain oil residue.
- Petrol (in a sealed container) may be taken to the hazardous waste collection area at Redland Bay Recycling and Waste Centre.
- Remember: Never pour engine oil down the drain, this can cause serious damage and injure marine life.
More information is available on Council’s waste and recycling webpage.
This year’s National Water Week runs until 26 October and is an initiative of the Australian Water Association as a way of reminding everyone that water must be used wisely.
For more tips on how to be wise with water, check out Council’s City Water webpage.
