The Environment Protection Act 2017 (EP Act) creates a GED that applies to all Victorians from 1 July 2021. The GED requires anyone conducting an activity that poses risks to human health and the environment from pollution and waste, to minimise those risks.

If you own or use an onsite wastewater management system (OWMS), including septic tank systems and secondary treatment systems, the GED applies to you. It also applies to how you construct, install, alter, operate and maintain the system, deal with faults or system failures and manage your waste.