On-site Wastewater Control Systems
An onsite wastewater control system is a means of disposing of your effluent when there is no sewer or Community Wastewater Management Scheme available.
Installation approval must be obtained from the relevant authority before a wastewater system is installed or altered.
For small systems - up to 40 equivalent persons (EP) - applications for installation must be made to:
- The Council for the area in which the system is to be installed. Further information can be obtained by contacting our Environmental Health Officer on 8666 2014 or email Council at postmaster@mtr.sa.gov.au.
For larger systems - greater than 40 equivalent persons (EP) - contact the Department for Health and Ageing's Wastewater Management Section.
The EP calculation is based on a hydraulic flow of 150 litres/day per person and an organic load of 50 g BOD5/day per person at the septic tank outlet. If a large system is to be installed and you are not sure if it comes within these criteria, contact the Wastewater Management Section for further advice.
An application fee applies for installation applications. Contact officers from the above authorities for the current fee. We recommend that you discuss the proposed installation with these officers in the early stages of planning a property development. There may be important design considerations
that need to be identified before planning decisions are made.
In an area serviced by SA Water or a Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) operated by a local council or a private organisation, the installation proposal should be discussed with the service supplier. There may be a requirement for wastewater systems to be connected to the existing scheme.
Codes and Standards
On-site wastewater systems code
All products used for on-site wastewater treatment in South Australia must be approved by the Department prior to sale or installation. Check the approved products lists or contact the manufacturer/supplier of the wastewater system to ensure that the proposed unit is an approved product.
All new sanitary plumbing and drainage work must comply with the National Construction Code (NCC) Volume 3 Plumbing Code of Australia (PCA), the South Australian Variations and/or Additional Provisions as listed in Appendix A of the PCA and the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and
Drainage. The standard can be obtained from Standards Australia.
Application for an On-Site Wastewater works approval
Maintenance
Regular maintenance of an on-site wastewater system is important for its efficient operation. If you have a property with a wastewater treatment system and would like to know more about its maintenance, the following fact sheets may provide useful information:
For any further enquiries or clarification, please don't hesitate to contact the Environmental Health Officer on 8666 2014 or postmaster@mtr.sa.gov.au
High Risk Manufactured Water Systems (HRMWS)
The Public and Environmental Health (Legionella) Regulations 2013 and Guidelines for the Control of Legionella in Manufactured Water Systems in South Australia came into operation on 16 June 2013. The Legionella Regulations and Guidelines aim to reduce the risk of community and healthcare acquired legionellosis.
The Legionella Regulations and guidelines formalise the management of warm water systems and cooling water systems in non-domestic setting in South Australia.
What is a cooling water system?
The Legionella Regulations define a cooling water system as ‘a heat exchange system that consists of a heat generating plant, a heat rejection plant, interconnecting water recirculating pipe work and associated pumps, valves and controls, and includes a cooling tower or evaporative condenser’.
What is a warm water system?
The Legionella Regulations define a warm water system as ‘a reticulated water system that distributes or recirculates warm water through the majority of its branches at a nominal temperature of 45°C by means of a temperature controlling device’.
Do the Legionella Regulations apply to me?
The Regulations apply to the owner(s)* of all warm water system(s) and/or cooling water system(s), except for systems installed in:
(a) a Class 1A, 4 or 10 building (private single domestic dwelling) under the Building Code, or
(b) a sole occupancy unit in a class 2 building (unit or flat) under the Building Code, provided that it is not a warm water system that serves more than one dwelling.
*Note: As specified in the Legionella Regulations, a reference to the owner of the premises includes a reference to an occupier of the premises if the occupier is responsible for the operation of the system.
Fact Sheets
Is my heated water system captured under the Legionella Regulations?
Reporting Forms
Notification of legionella detection in a water sample
Application Forms
Application form- cooling water systems maintenance
Alternative Decontamination Procedure for Cooling Water Systems
Alternative Decontamination Procedure for Warm Water Systems
Drift Eliminator Exemption for Cooling Tower
For any further enquiries or clarification, please don't hesitate to contact the Environmental Health Officer on 8666 2014 or postmaster@mtr.sa.gov.au