Septic Tank Systems

Small domestic sewage management facilities or on-site sewage management systems include all types of human waste storage facilities. They include pump-out systems, sewage ejection units, septic tanks, aerated wastewater treatment systems, composting toilets, pit toilets, wastewater filtration systems, effluent soak-away trenches, mounds and irrigation areas, greywater treatment systems, greywater application systems and domestic grease traps.

Failing on-site sewage management systems release dangerous levels of sewage pollution to the environment. Sewage pollution causes contamination of water, which can spread disease and lead to environmental degradation. There are approximately 300,000 on-site sewage management systems across NSW and 1,500 within the Tumut Shire Council Area. The cumulative impact of effluent, is a critical problem. Sewage pollution is evident in metropolitan, suburban and rural residential areas, in unsewered rural villages and in environmentally sensitive areas, especially near waterways and in drinking water catchments. With advances in the performance of on-site sewage management systems there is no reason for the community to accept failing systems. However, research shows that many people don't understand how to manage and maintain their systems.

Tumut Shire Council is a participant in the Septic Safe, a statewide partnership between the NSW Government and local councils to address this issue. Septic Safe provides effective education, support and supervision to landowners, so that their systems operate in accordance with the health and environmental performance standards, and to monitor and manage the cumulative impact of sewage pollution in and across local government areas.

For more information view the Department of Local Goverment - OSSM

Download On-site Sewerage Management Code (pdf 237Kb)

On-Site Wastewater Sewerage AWTS Owners Guide

On-Site Wastewater Management Septic Tank Owners Guide