On-site waste water management systems

Approximately 20% of Australia's population depend on domestic on-site waste water management systems. On-site waste water management systems are made use of where the degree of development does not justify the provision of a sewerage scheme.

Under Tasmania's Building Act 2000 section 3(1) "on-site waste water management system" means an on-site system for the management of waste water that is a disposal or treatment system servicing one or more blocks; or an on-site composting toilet or system; or an on-site incinerating toilet.

On-site waste water management systems are used for the bacterial, biological, chemical or physical treatment of sewage, and includes all tanks, beds, artificial wetlands, settling lagoons, trenches, sewers, drains, pipes, fittings, appliances and land used in connection with the system.

Under the Plumbing Regulations 2004 Regulation 3 (1) "sewage" means water-borne waste of human origin comprising faecal matter, greywater, urine or liquid household waste. Sewage includes wastewater from kitchens, laundries, bathrooms and toilets.

The Building Act 2000 and the Tasmanian Plumbing Code provides for the Accreditation and management/maintenance of on-site waste water management systems. The installation and maintenance of Accredited systems with a designed hydraulic loading of up to 100 kilolitres per day are regulated by Permit Authorities (Municipal Councils) except where they are defined as Level 2 Activities under Schedule 2 of the Environmental Management and Pollution Control Act 1994.

Permit Authorities (councils) will:

• issue plumbing permits for systems to be installed or altered
• issue special plumbing permits to use the on-site disposal systems
• ensure compliance with conditions of permits and accreditation if applicable

Permit Authorities (councils) can only issue a permit for a system that has been accredited by the Minister in accordance with Part G2 of the Tasmanian Plumbing Code unless exempt under regulation 12(2) of the Plumbing Regulations 2004. They must also refuse to issue a permit if the proposed use of the system would be contrary to the declared State Policy on Water Quality Management 1997, or the products to be used in the on-site waste water management system have not been authorised under the Tasmanian Plumbing Code; or in the opinion of the Council Envoronmental Health Officer, the land is not suitable for the proposed on-site waste water management system.

Fees can be charged by the Permit Authority (council) for issuing a permit and the on-going management for the on-site waste water management system.

The fees may include an allowance for the:

• site evaluation
• assessment of specific design suitability
• investigations and inspections
• on-going maintenance and management of the system

A list of the systems accredited by the Minister for use in Tasmania is below. Other systems and models found on the manufacturers websites provided, are not necessarilly accredited. Only the systems/models listed are accredited for use in Tasmania.

Resources

List of accredited on-site wastewater management systems

 Authorised plumbing products and accredited plumbing systems (GB173)

 On-site waste water management systems (GB174)

"To flush isn’t the end of the line" (New CD-ROM Toolkit helps building owners maintain waste water management systems)