On-Site Wastewater Management and Water Recycling

All forms of household wastewater can carry bugs that are a risk to human health and may harm the environment. Household wastewater comes from your kitchen, toilets, showers and laundry.

To ensure wastewater is managed in a way which reduces the risk to public health and environmental pollution, NSW Health provides guidelines and a system of accreditation for on-site domestic wastewater management facilities (e.g. septic tanks, aerated wastewater treatment systems, etc.).

We also can provide you advice on water recycling which is the re-use of wastewater for non – potable (you cannot drink it) purposes.

You can contact an Environmental Health Officer on 1300 066 055.

Information regarding wastewater management and water recycling can be found on the NSW Government Health website.

How will this information help you?

• Understand what wastewater, sewage and water recycling is
• Understand what on-site single domestic wastewater management is, and what this means for you if you are the owner or operator of such a system
• Understand requirements for water recycling including the regulation and application process, plumbing requirements, guidance available, what needs to happen when something goes wrong (incidents), stormwater harvesting and bio solids (sewage sludge) reuse.
• Access the Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling 2006
• Provide links to other sites relating to water recycling