If your home is not connected to the sewer, you may have an on-site sewage management system, such as a septic tank, composting toilet or aerated system.

There are special regulations that apply to these systems. As the owner of the property, it is your responsibility to ensure that the system is approved by your local council and that it is working properly. On-site systems can be a risk to the health of your family and other community members if they are not properly maintained. They can also cause harm to the environment.

To ensure that your system meets the requirements, you will need to obtain two approvals from your local council.

• The first approval is to install the system.
• The second approval is to operate the system

After you obtain these approvals, the council will carry out regular inspections to make sure the system is working properly. Councils can charge inspection fees for this service.

If you have any questions about the on-site sewage system requirements, your local council can help, or consult The Easy Septic Guide – PDF.

The Department of Planning and Environment – Water website also includes helpful information and resources about sewage management – https://www.industry.nsw.gov.au/water/water-utilities