Model conditions for septic tank permits

Guidance for users:

• These are model conditions only and should be modified as required to meet local conditions.
• Bold text indicates that the user needs to select the value or text to insert at that point.
• Italicised text is included for information only and should be deleted when the permit conditions have been finalised.

General

• The system must be constructed in accordance with the septic tank permit application dated day/month/year. In the event of any inconsistency arising between the application and the conditions of this permit, the conditions of this permit will apply.
• The system must be constructed, installed and maintained in accordance with:

(i) EPA certificate of approval CA XX/YY
(ii) The current edition of EPA's Code of Practice – Septic Tanks On-site Domestic Wastewater Management
(iii) Australian/New Zealand Standard 1547 On-site domestic-wastewater management and Australian/New Zealand Standard 3500 National plumbing and drainage cde and other relevant Australian Standards
(iv) Council Guidelines.

• The permit holder must notify Council so that an inspection can be arranged at the following times:

(i) Immediately prior to installation of the system commencing
(ii) Immediately prior to the construction of the absorption trenches
(iii) Immediately after installation of the system is finished
(iv) Other times to suit the individual system

• The system must not be altered or modified, except with the approval of the Council. A Permit to Alter a Septic Tank System must be obtained from Council before making any alterations to the system.
• The system must not be used until Council has issued a Certificate to Use for the system.
• This permit is only valid for (12/24/other) months from the date of issue, unless construction of the system has commenced within that period.
• Effluent from the system must not be discharged beyond the boundaries of the allotment.
• (i) The system is approved for wastewater flows not exceeding XXX litres per day and an organic loading not exceeding YYY grams of BOD per day.
  (ii) Extending the buildings served by the system may cause the above limits to be exceeded. A Permit to Alter a Septic Tank System must be obtained from Council before altering the system to cope with the increased flows associated with the installation of additional plumbing fixtures and features.
• All access openings for the septic tank system must be brought up to ground level and comply with Australian Standard 1546, On-site domestic wastewater treatment units.

Use the following condition for systems with mechanical components – modify wording as needed to suit the particular system:

• An alarm system with suitable visual and/or audio (with mute facility) warning signal must be installed in an appropriate location to indicate failure of any effluent pump or aeration component.

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System maintenance

General

• The system must be assessed for permit compliance by an (accredited person/person acceptable to the Council) every (1/2/3/other years/months).

Conditions for conventional septic tanks

• The septic tank must be desludged at least once every three years, or whenever the tank becomes more than half full of sludge.

Maintenance condition for aerated wastewater treatment systems, sandfilters, composting toilets, etc

• The system must be maintained at least once every (three months/other period that reflects EPA Certificate of Approval) by a competently trained person or servicing agent, in accordance with the manufacturer specifications.

Care of effluent absorptions systems

• The effluent absorption area must be maintained as a permanent, dedicated area.
• Vehicles and livestock must be excluded from the effluent absorption area.
• Stormwater must be diverted around the effluent absorption area to a Council approved point of discharge.
• Buildings, driveways, concrete, tennis courts, swimming pools, tennis courts, garden beds, vegetable gardens, large trees and the like must not be placed in or on effluent disposal areas.

Care of effluent irrigation areas

• The effluent irrigation area must be maintained as a permanent, dedicated area.
• Vehicles and livestock must be excluded from the effluent irrigation area.
• Suitable plants and landscaping must be established on the effluent irrigation area before effluent application commences; and the plants and landscaping must be maintained over the life of the system.
• Stormwater must be diverted around the effluent irrigation area to a Council approved point of discharge.
• All irrigation pipework and fittings must comply with Australian Standard 2698 Plastic pipes and fittings for irrigation and rural applications.
• The irrigation system must be permanently fixed with distribution pipes buried at least 150mm below the natural ground surface.

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Sampling and analysing effluent

• (i) A sample of effluent must be taken at least once each (3 months for offsite discharges/12 months for surface irrigation or disposal via subsurface absorption or transpiration trenches/other) and analysed by a laboratory registered with National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) for the tests specified below.

(ii) Samples of the effluent must be analysed for:

• Biochemical Oxygen Demand
• Suspended Solids.

For surface irrigation add:

• E.coli bacteria
• Free Residual Chlorine.

For offsite discharges add:

• E.coli bacteria
• Total residual chlorine.

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Reporting to council

• Reports must be provided to Council as follows:

 

Maintenance reports	Copies of the maintenance reports and effluent sampling results for the preceding 12 months must be submitted to Council by day/month each year
Effluent sampling results
Permit compliance assessment report	A copy of the permit compliance assessment report must be submitted to Council within (30 days/other) of each assessment being made

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