Septic Tanks
If your home is not connected to the sewer, you may have an on-site sewerage management system, such as a septic tank, composting toilet or aerated system.
There are special regulations that apply to these systems. As the owner of the property, it is your responsibility to ensure that the system is approved by Council and that it is working properly. On-site systems can be a risk to the health of your family and other community members if they are not properly maintained. They can also cause harm to the environment.
We have an On-site Sewage Management Plan to help assess, regulate and manage the selection, design, installation, operation and maintenance of on-site sewage management systems. The plan can be viewed here and is also available at any of our offices.
You need to obtain approval from us to install and operate a septic system and also to amend it. These are the forms you need:
Recommended specifications for your septic tank.
After you obtain these approvals, we will carry out regular inspections to make sure the system is working properly. Councils can charge inspection fees for this service.
Please contact us if you have any questions about the on-site sewerage system requirements.
You can also consult The Easy Septic Guide or the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment – Water website which includes helpful information and resources about sewage management.