Septic Tanks

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Council’s Environmental Health Department is responsible for assessing permit applications for the installation and alteration of onsite wastewater management system (septic tank systems) throughout the Shire, in accordance with the current Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Code of Practice - Septic Tanks and relevant accreditation.

It is important that these systems do not harm the environment or become a risk to human health.

How do I look after my Septic System?

It is important that you know where your onsite wastewater management system (septic) is located, including the tank, effluent drains, inspection and access openings to make sure your system is working properly at all times.

For the correct operating and maintenance of your system you need to refer to your system’s manufacturer recommendations and also the conditions on your onsite wastewater management system (septic) Permit.

If your system is not operating properly:

  • Polluted water from your septic system carrying bacteria and viruses could make people unwell.
  • The polluted water can have a damaging effect on the environment.
  • You may be up for expensive repairs and or replacement costs.

Signs of a failing system

  • Rotten smells
  • Sewage smells
  • Pooling of water
  • Alarm system warnings
  • Blockages
  • Water backing up in the sink, shower or washing machine
  • Water draing away too slowly
  • Pipes making noises or gurgling when draining
  • High sludge levels
  • A lush green growth down slope of the effluent drains.
  • Soil effluent (absorption) trench lines that become waterlogged following storms
  • Presence of dead and dying vegetation around, particularly down slope of the land disposal area.

Tips and maintenance

  • Check sludge level, pumps, alarms, disposal area and pipes often, at least once a year.
  • Desludge (empty by pumping out) the tank at least every three years as stated in your permits, or sooner if needed. Please make sure you send Council a copy of the maintenance report from your contractor.
  • Do not wash or disinfect tank after desludging.
  • If you have an Aerated Wastewater Treatment System ( treatment plant), ensure you have it serviced at intervals required by the manufacturer. This is to be done by an accredited service agent and copies of the agent’s service reports need to be sent Council.
  • Do not build over or disturb the system, including the effluent area.
  • Do not drive over or allow livestock to disturb the effluent trenches.
  • Do not cover any of the system with concrete or pavers.
  • Keep tree roots, vehicles and farm animals away from pipes
  • If there is an odour from your system, flush a cup of garden lime down the toilet each day until the odour is gone. If odour persists, seek professional advice.
  • Limit the use of germicides, such as strong detergents, disinfectants, toilet cleaners or bleaches.
  • Use soapy water to clean toilets and other fixtures.
  • Use only detergents with low alkaline salts and chlorine levels.
  • Do not flush sanitary napkins or disposable nappies down the system.
  • Use a sink strainer to stop food scraps from going into your system.
  • Do not use a garbage disposal unit.
  • Minimise the amount of oil and fat that goes into the system.
  • Fill the septic tank with water to reduce odours on start up and after desludging.
  • Make sure only a suitably trained person works on your system.
  • Get Council  approval before altering or adding to your system.
  • Know where your septic tank, pits, trenches and pipes are.
  • Pump out the septic tank regularly.
  • Have your treatment plant serviced at intervals required by the manufacturer.
  • Use water efficiently by installing water-saving appliances and spreading out water usage to reduce overloading.
  • Only flush or wash down items safe for your septic system. Do not flush down bleaches, fats, oils and sanitary products.

For renters

If you are a tenant of a rental property who is reliant on a septic system, be sure to contact your property manager should you have any concerns regarding the system.

How long does a permit application take to process?

Council has 42 business days to determine an on-site wastewater management system permit application assessment after receiving all required documentation specified in theOnsite Wastewater Management System Permit to Install application, per Environmental Protection Act 2017,) and Environmental Protection Regulation 2021. However, Council works towards determining On-site Wastewater Management System Permit applications sooner than this.


First Steps

Before constructing, installing, altering, amending, transferred or using any on-site wastewater management system (septic tank system) a permit must be obtained from Council.

Council can only approve systems that have JAS-ANZ (Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand) Certificate of Conformity, comply with Planning Permits and Planning controls, designed by a suitably qualified Land Capability Consultant, of whom will provide a Land Capability Assessment Report, have written operation and maintenance information, that complies with Environmental Protection Act 2017, Environmental Protection Regulation 2021, Victorian EPA Code of Practice Onsite Wastewater Management 891.4 and MAV Victorian Land Capability Assessment Framework 2014.

In unsewered areas, Building Surveyors cannot issue a Building Permit until On-site Wastewater Management Permit has been issued by Council.


Inspection

Council’s Environmental Health Officers will inspect the property prior to the system being constructed, installed, altered, amended or transferred and following installation to ensure the on-site wastewater management system meets the guidelines and Environmental Protection Act 2017. If your property access is restricted, please contact the Environmental Health Department to make arrangements to enable Council Officers to undertake the appropriate inspections.

Once the on-site wastewater management system is installed or altered, you will need to submit as installed system layout plans with Plumbing Compliance Certificate to Council's Environmental Health Department.


Certificates and approvals

If you have installed an Aerated Wastewater Treatment System or Sandfilter or Reedbed System or Worm type systems, you will be required to provide a copy of the maintenance agreement with the final layout plan. The owner will be issued with Approval to Use if On-Site Wastewater Management Certificate when this information has been received and Council's Environmental Health Officers are satisfied the On-site Wastewater Management System Permit conditions have been met.

It is the responsibility of the property owners or occupiers to ensure their septic system is operated, maintained, serviced, pumped out and monitored.


When is an On-site wastewater management System (septic) Permit required?

Alteration or/and construction and/and Installation of wastewater plumbing fixtures such as bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities i.e. toilet, basin, shower, sink where reticulated sewerage is unavailable will trigger an on-site wastewater management system permit application to alter or install or construct an on-site wastewater management system.

An On-site wastewater Management System Permit is required to be approved by Council’s Environmental Health Department as per Environmental Protection Act 2017, and Environmental Protection Regulation 2021, prior to:

  • Installation, replacement or relocation of internal plumbing, fixtures or fittings.

and/or

  • Change the design or construction of the onsite wastewater management system.

and/or

  • Premises wastewater hydraulic flow or organic load of the system is changed.

Onsite Wastewater Management System Permit to Install application  requires a Land Capability Assessment Report (LCA) to be prepared by a suitably qualified competent consultant and provided with the application. The LCA report should contain the best practicable and most sustainable on-site wastewater management system/s designed for the site. The land capability consultant should consider relevant geographical, environmental, public health, social, standards, codes and legislative information when designing the property’s on-site wastewater management system/s. The report should determine whether the land is capable of treating and retaining all wastewater created on the property sustainably within the allotment boundaries. Whether primary, secondary or advanced secondary wastewater treatment is suitable, alternatively connecting the development to reticulated sewerage. Detailed LCA report requirements are detailed in the table further down in this email.


Further Information

The following weblinks and the following information to assist with understanding the requirements for owners and occupiers of land with an onsite wastewater management system including operating, maintaining, altering, installing a system.

Buying an unsewered property

Many properties in the Southern Grampians Shire are not connected to a reticulated sewerage system and have a septic tank system installed.

Purchasing a property in an unsewered area might be new to some homeowners and prospective buyers who are accustomed to their sewerage services being provided by a Water Authority.

It is important when purchasing a property that you know whether it is connected to a reticulated sewerage system or a septic tank system.

An onsite wastewater management system is commonly referred to as septic or a septic tank system. A septic tank system treats all of the wastewater generated from the dwelling and disposes of or re-uses the treated wastewater onsite, within the property boundaries.

Prospective buyers should first ask whether the property is connected to the reticulated sewerage system or if it has a septic tank system. If the property is not connected to the reticulated sewerage system, we recommend that you request documentation from the vendor about the septic tank system.

Documents to request before purchasing a property include:

  • Permit to Install a Septic Tank System
  • Certificate to Use a Septic Tank System
  • Any approved or stamped plan showing the approved location of the septic tank system and effluent disposal area

A property with a septic tank system requires a Permit to Install and a Certificate to Use issued by Council before the system is used or a Certificate of Occupancy is issued by a Building Surveyor. The Permit to Install provides conditions about the type and use of the system approved for the dwelling.

An approved plan will show the septic tank location and the effluent disposal area. In some circumstances, owners of septic tank systems have illegally altered their systems without the relevant permits.

If you purchase a property without checking or requesting the documentation of the septic tank system and Council finds the system has been altered from its approved certificates, the responsibility sits with the current owner at the time of investigation, who will be required to either to upgrade or return the system to its approved state.


Township Septic System Inspection Program

Council is undertaking township wide inspection of septic tanks within the six unsewered townships in the Shire. Branxholme, Penshurst, Glenthompson, Cavendish and Balmoral septic inspection programs have been completed with Tarrington still to come.

Councils in Victoria are responsible for ensuring domestic septic systems, with flow rates of less than 5000L/day, are installed and managed correctly, to avoid environmental pollution and public health issues. Council’s Domestic Wastewater Management Plan (2006) recommends regular inspections of systems to ensure their correct operation and as a result the Council has committed to conduct the inspection program throughout the municipality.

Many of the onsite systems within the Shire are up to 25-30 years old and are therefore reaching a point where minor maintenance and monitoring is required to ensure the systems remain functional into the future.

An important outcome of the programs was to develop an understanding of the locations, conditions and uses of many of the aged systems, with the intent to provide owners with the knowledge and advice to avoid any potential public health issues into the future. Reports for each township are available.

Balmoral-Onsite-Wastewater-Management-Township-inspection-Program-Outcome-Community-Presentation(PDF, 1MB)

Balmoral-Onsite-Wastewater-Management-Township-Inspection-Program-Project-Report(PDF, 2MB)

Branxholme-Wastewater-Feasibility-Study(PDF, 5MB)

Cavendish-Onsite-Wastewater-Management-Township-inspection-Program-Outcome-Community-Presentation(PDF, 1MB)

Cavendish-Onsite-Wastewater-Management-Township-Inspection-Program-Project-Report(PDF, 2MB)

Glenthompson-Onsite-Wastewater-Management-Township-Inspection-Program-Outcome-Community-Presentation(PDF, 1MB)

Glenthompson-Onsite-Wastewater-Management-Township-Inspection-Program-Project-Report(PDF, 1MB)

Penshurst-Onsite-Wastewater-Management-Township-inspection-Program-Outcome-Community-Presentation(PDF, 973KB)

Penshurst-Onsite-Wastewater-Management-Township-Inspection-Program-Project-Report(PDF, 973KB)

  

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