Onsite effluent disposal

In areas where reticulated sewerage is not available, onsite effluent disposal is required. Onsite effluent disposal refers to the treatment and discharge of waste water from properties onsite. Most effluent disposal systems used and installed are septic tanks and leach drains.  The type and size of system will depend on a number of factors including the scale of development, volume of wastewater produced as well as environmental factors such as type of soil and proximity of water bodies or groundwater.

There are a number of different types of systems all with their own unique advantages and disadvantages.  In some cases there may be restrictions on the type of system permitted usually due to environmental factors but in other cases it is a matter of personal preference. For more information of the different types of systems, including some of their advantages and disadvantages, refer to the City's comparison guide(PDF, 189KB).

Before an onsite effluent disposal system is installed, an application must be lodged with the City and approval obtained. For applications for a single residence approval is obtained direct from the City.  You will need to lodge an application(PDF, 336KB) along with the required fees and supporting documentation. For commercial properties, application for a second system on a property or systems larger than 540L/day you will need to use the Department of Health's application form. This application is still lodged to the City however additional fees may apply. Once an application is received it will be assessed by an Environmental Health Officer to ensure the proposal complies with the legislative requirements.

For more information on the application process please refer to the City’s information package(PDF, 291KB)