Step by Step Process

step by step process

Whether you are looking for a household sewage system, a greywater system or a commercial treatment system, you may have already discovered there are applications to be lodged, regulations to wade through and local conditions to be considered. On top of this you need to weigh up the differences in the systems available with the knowledge you could end up with issues and problems that may be hard and costly to solve well into the future if the system doesn’t meet your expectation.

The general information following is provided to help you through the process, ask the right questions and find the detail you need and get the appropriate system for your needs at the right price.

Domestic Sewage Treatment - Black & Grey Water

Domestic Systems are often referred to as 'On-site Systems' because the treated waste water has to be discharged within the site or property boundary on which the waste water was generated. These systems are required where municipal services aren't available, typically where in the past a septic system was installed.

It is illegal to install an on-site system where council services are available. Other terms used to describe domestic systems are aerated wastewater treatment systems (AWTS), HTPS systems or ‘modified’ septic systems. Systems available in Australia have to go through a testing and verification process to receive Australian Standards certification followed by approval in state confirming state code conditions have been met. The conditions around the approval and installation process vary from state to state.

Treated Water Re-use

The permitted uses of the treated water are governed by state code and local council, the most common approved methods include surface heavy drop sprinklers, surface and subsurface dripper systems and in some cases trenching. Your site conditions such as soil profile, the size of your home(based on bedrooms), slope of your block and environmental factors all can play a part.

Some states and councils require a site and soil evaluation and report to determine the irrigation field requirements.

The basic steps in the process of installing a domestic wastewater treatment system are in most cases as follows

Step 1 – Local Council

It is important to educate yourself with Local Council rules. Local Council Approval will be required prior to installing a system and as a first step it is best to be informed about your local councils specific conditions, the forms, fees and application process. If you need help with this, your local WaterGurus Distributor can provide information on council requirements and the forms required.
The approval process can take several weeks to several months so it is best to be organised and plan early in your project.

Step 2 – Site and soil evaluation

In Queensland and Tasmania you will need to engage a geotechnical company to conduct a site and soil evaluation and provide a report which will need to be lodged with your application to install a system. Your local council usually has a list of registered geo techs within the council region or a WaterGurus distributor can help if you need information on companies who can do this for you . In other states the council may either request a site visit and report or offer council direction and services on what land application area detail is acceptable. Consideration will need to be given to proximity to water courses and bores, boundaries and placement with the yard. The sizing of your irrigation field is primarily based on the number of bedrooms in your home but can vary from council to council.

Step 3 – System selection – sizing – treatment process

Sizing of the treatment system and the required treated water land application area are governed by Australian Standards, State Codes and Local Laws. As a rule of thumb the sizing is governed essentially by the number of bedrooms in your house and the soil type in your yard that will take the treated water. Most systems are approved to an average 8 to 10 people and the waste water irrigation areas are typically 200 square meters up to 600 square meters. If your block size is less than 1000 metre square you may need to call us to help with a tailored solution. It is important to consider power costs of systems, water quality achieved, service costs and seek customer names of others who have installed the system/s you may be considering. Generally like most things in life you get what you pay for and when it comes to sewage treatment, choosing a cheaper systems may turn out to be ‘on the nose’ in the long run.

Step 4- Site visit by a professional

At this point or even earlier it is best to engage a waste water professional to visit your site, provide assistance, information and prepare a written quote for all works to be undertaken. It is important all issues are considered such as extra plumbing work, site excavation works and rectification, electrical connection and a well designed, sited and installed irrigation area. Ensure you consider the sighting of the system in relation to living and sleeping areas. Remember to discuss the best outcomes with the irrigation area, in water restricted times your garden will benefit from every drop you can return to it.