Find out when and how you are required to decommission a wastewater treatment system.
Decommissioning requirements
Under the Health (Treatment of Sewage and Disposal of Effluent and Liquid Waste) Regulations 1974, the owner of a property must decommission any disused apparatus for the treatment of sewage when a property is connected to the sewer.
Decommissioning must occur:
- If there is a material change in the use of the premises – not more than 60 days after the day on which the change in use occurred. An example of this is if a premises changes from a private residence to a childcare centre
- Not more than 60 days after every person who was an owner of the premises at the time the premises was connected to the sewer ceases to be an owner of the premises
- Before building work commences, if foundations for a building on the premises are to be built closer than 1.2 metres from the apparatus or a building is to be constructed above the apparatus.
How to decommission a wastewater system
The steps involved in decommissioning a system include:
- Any remaining wastewater in the system is pumped out and taken away by an approved liquid waste contractor
- Wastewater or greywater systems are removed
- Where removal of the system is not practicable, the base of the tanks must be broken up and the entire system backfilled with clean fill.
On completion, the following form must be completed and submitted to the Shire:
More information and contact
For more information, contact the Shire’s Environmental Health Team on (08) 9780 5255 or email [email protected]