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What You Need to Know

NSW state government laws now require that every septic system is registered. You may be wondering why this is necessary.

WHAT IS THE REGISTRATION FEE?

The registration fee is just like registering a vehicle. The amount of the fee and the period of registration are determined by your council. The details are set out in the council's management plan and sewage management strategy.

The fee helps the council cover the costs of assessing and managing the risk to health and environment of every septic system. The council has to manage the cumulative impact of all the septic systems in its area.

HOW COUNCIL SUPERVISION WORKS

Council is required to manage sewage pollution in a systematic way. This means looking at the potential impact of septic systems. Most councils are classifying systems and areas for supervision purposes. The higher the risk, the higher the level of supervision required.

The process works like this-

1. Resident lodges SepticSafe application fee and may continue operating system
2. Council assesses application and puts in a risk category (high, medium, low)
3. Council issues an operating approval which outlines standards and conditions of operation and may include an inspection of the system.

This approval is like a drivers' licence - it belongs to the person, not the land. When the property changes hands the new owner must notify the council and obtain an approval in their own name.

YOUR SEPTIC IS CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO IT'S ENVIRONMENTAL RISK

Your septic system classification depends largely on the environment where it is located. There are three kinds of areas -

High Risk Areas

These are vulnerable and sensitive environments like towns, riverbanks, or floodplains, or coastal areas near oyster leases.

If your system is put in a HIGH risk area, council will arrange to have regular checks made to ensure it is working properly.

Medium Risk Areas

Areas which are less sensitive to septic pollution, such as level areas in good soil and low housing density.

If you are in a MEDIUM risk area, council may ask you to arrange a check yourself and report the results.

Low Risk Areas

These are well-drained areas away from streams, waterways and groundwater supplies.

If your area is LOW risk, council may allow you to operate it without regular approval, provided it is well maintained.

AS A SEPTIC SYSTEM OWNER, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR -

• ensuring the tank doesn't leak
• getting the system fixed promptly if it is not working properly
• ensuring the system is fully maintained
• ensuring it is inspected regularly (every 1-5 years)
• getting it pumped out when the tank becomes too full to process the flow going into it
• maintaining and protecting the absorption field
• obtaining council approval for on site sewage installation and operation
• paying a septic system fee and carrying out council?s requests for inspections or maintenance.

MEANWHILE, COUNCL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR-

• working with you to keep your system healthy
• setting up a supervision strategy for all septics in the council area
• providing advice and contacts to septic system owners who need professional services to fix or maintain their systems
• regulating the installation and operation of septic systems under the Local Government Act 1993
• maintaining a register of all septic systems under the Local Government (Approvals) Regulation 1999
• monitoring and managing the potential overall impact of sewage pollution
• planning the future growth and impact of unsewered areas
• providing resources to facilitate servicing of septic systems.

Contact details
Dungog Shire Council
02 4995 7777 (ph)
02 4995 7750 (fax)
shirecouncil@dungog.nsw.gov.au

© 2008 Dungog Shire Council
This page: http://www.dungog.nsw.gov.au/environment/1068/1535.html