Wastewater

Wastewater is waste that consists mostly of water. The main types of wastewater include:

• greywater – includes water from:
  • showers and baths
  • basins and laundry troughs
  • washing machines
  • kitchens
• sewage – wastewater containing any human excreta, urine or toilet flush water (this includes greywater)
• water containing any commercial, industrial or trade waste –this varies in quality and quantity depending on the industry type and business size
• agricultural wastewater – for example, animal effluent.

Wastewater is collected through:

• the sewerage system, which then flows into wastewater treatment facilities
• onsite wastewater management systems
• temporary storage before transfer to a licensed wastewater treatment facility.

Wastewater can contain microorganisms that can cause disease (pathogens). It can also contain pollutants. For example, wastewater can contain:

• chemicals and heavy metals found in industrial waste and naturally present in the environment
  
• microorganisms such as harmful bacteria, virus, protozoa and helminths, which can cause disease
  
• nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus, which can cause harmful algal blooms that impact water quality and kill fish
• suspended solids or sediment such as soil, sand and other particles, which can build up in waterways
• water with too high or too low pH, which presents a risk when there's close contact.
  

The best way to manage wastewater is to avoid producing it. Reusing or recycling water are the next preferred options.

Wastewater can be treated for reuse. Onsite wastewater management systems and wastewater treatment facilities can treat wastewater. Learn more about recycled water.

Disposal of wastewater is the least preferred option. This follows the principle of waste management hierarchy.

Wastewater and the law

The general environmental duty applies to activities that involve the generation, management and treatment of wastewater. You must eliminate or reduce the risk of harm to human health or the environment from wastewater, so far as reasonably practicable. This includes storage and handling of wastewater. For example:

• keep your onsite wastewater management system in good working order
• manage the risks when you dispose of wastewater to land or reuse appropriately treated wastewater on land.

You have a responsibility to make sure your waste goes to the right place. You must comply with your waste duties when managing wastewater.

Part 5.7 of the Environment Protection Regulations 2021(opens in a new window) sets out requirements for owners and occupiers of land with an onsite wastewater management system. Local councils can enforce these requirements.

There's an order for obligations of managers of land or infrastructure for onsite wastewater management. The order has requirements for councils and water corporations.

Learn more about your obligations and managing:

• an onsite wastewater management system
• greywater
• recycled water.

Permissions

In some cases, you must get a permission to conduct activities related to managing wastewater. Our permissions focus on activities that may have a significant impact on human health and the environment. Permissions have conditions that must be followed.

Activities related to wastewater that need a permission include:

• A20 – Onsite wastewater management system permit from your local council to construct, install or alter an onsite wastewater management system
• A03 – Sewage treatment licence for a treatment plant
• A04 – Industrial wastewater treatment licence for discharging or depositing more than 5,000 litres per day of industrial wastewater generated at another site
• A14 – Reclaimed wastewater supply or use permit to supply or use reclaimed wastewater (recycled water).

Visit Find which permission you need.

Our role in managing wastewater

Our role in managing wastewater includes:

• providing guidance to industry on good environmental practices
• controlling commercial and industrial wastewater discharges through our permissions
• controlling how industry can reuse wastewater.

We provide guidance for water corporations on managing wastewater. This includes:

• managing the risk of sewer overflows and leakages
• discharging wastewater into waterways.

This guidance includes:

• Sewerage management guidelines
• EPA notification protocol for reporting high priority sewer spills
• Guidance for risk assessment of wastewater discharges to surface waters
• Victorian guideline for water recycling
• Technical information for the Victorian guideline for water recycling
• Victorian guideline for irrigation with recycled water
• Recycled water use in surface waters guideline
• Guidelines for environmental management – Biosolids land application.
  

We provide guidance to local government in our Regulating on-site wastewater management systems: local government toolkit. This toolkit explains:

• the A20 – On-site wastewater management system permit
• laws about proper operation and maintenance, including the duties of owners and occupiers
• how councils can enforce maintenance.

It also explains how councils can regulate systems under the general environmental duty by using powers delegated to them under the Environment Protection Act 2017(opens in a new window).

Impact of wastewater on your health and the environment

Wastewater can contain contaminants. These can impact water quality, harm plants and animals and present risks to human health. For example, pathogens can cause eye infections, respiratory infections and gastrointestinal illnesses.

When you manage wastewater properly – for example, when your system is correctly set up and maintained – the risk to health and the environment is low.

To assess the impacts of wastewater from treatment plants and onsite systems on human health and the environment, use the Guidance for risk assessment of wastewater discharges to surface waters.