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On Site Sewage Management

What is it? 

Because of the characteristics of the shire not all dwellings are serviced by Councils reticulated sewerage system. At least 5000 OSSM systems exist across the Shire. These are systems that process wastewater and dispose of the effluent within the premises.

There are two main types of on-site sewage management systems:

1. Septic Tanks

A septic tank is a water proof tank usually located below ground level and provides treatment of sewage by the anaerobic (in the absence of air) bacterial digestion of the solids. The solids accumulate at the bottom of the tank while the partly treated liquid flows from the septic tank to either a holding tank for regular pump out or directly to a soil absorption system.

2. Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems

Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS) use aeration of wastewater as an integral part of the treatment process. An AWTS differs from the septic tank in that the effluent is further treated through an aerobic biological process and disinfection with the effluent finally being applied to land through irrigation.  

Approvals

1. Approval to Install

If you wish to install a new on-site sewage management system on your property you are required to gain approval from the Council. You must submit a Land Use Application to install an on-site sewage management system together with all the required information along with the application fee.

2. Approval to Operate

It is now a legislated requirement that all onsite sewage management systems be granted an approval to operate regardless of the type or age of the system.
This means that Council must issue an approval to operate for every existing on-site sewage management system in the Shire. Council have in place an inspection process whereby a review of each system will be undertaken. Following the inspection, the effluent disposal system will be granted an “approval to operate” for a period of two, three or five years.

Please download the Application to Operate a System of Sewage on the Documents & Downloads page. (Link below)
 
Additional information on on-site sewage management systems is available from the following web sites:

On-Site Sewage Management Guidelines (Department of Local Government)
On-Site Single Domestic Wastewater Management Accreditation of Sewage Management Facilities (NSW Health)

Contact Details
OSSM Officer
02 48 680 888 (ph)
wscmail@wsc.nsw.gov.au

© 2008 Wingecarribee Shire Council
This page: http://wingecarribee.local-e.nsw.gov.au/sewerage/4972.html