Applied Environmental Health ~ Wastewater Management

Greywater & other Alternative Onsite Wastewater Systems

The systems listed below are referred to as alternative onsite wastewater systems. These are waste control / wastewater systems not covered under Codes prescribed under the Public and Environmental Health Act (Waste Control) Regulations. With individual assessment and approval these alternative onsite systems may be installed.

• Composting toilets or other blackwater (toilet waste) systems

• Greywater / sullage systems (laundry, bath, wastewater, shower, kitchen etc)

• Reedbed systems

• Nutrient removal systems

• Other wastewater systems using any technology

Information on septic tanks, aerobic wastewater systems and sand filters that comply with the Codes under the Waste Control Regulations can  be found on our Standard Onsite Wastewater Systems page.

Approval

Approval must be obtained before an alternative onsite system is installed.

Applications for approval must be submitted to the Department's Wastewater Management Section (authorised officers of the Department of Health with the delegated authority from the Minister of Health).

An application fee applies. Contact the Wastewater Management Section for the current fee. We recommend that you discuss the proposed installation with Department Officers in the early stages of planning a property development. There may be important design considerations that need to be identified before planning decisions are made.

In a sewerage area serviced by SA Water or a Septic Tank Effluent Drainage Scheme (STED) or other schemes serviced by a local council or a private scheme, there may be a requirement for wastewater systems to be connected to these schemes.

If you plan to install an alternative onsite wastewater system in:

• a SA Water sewerage area OR

• an area serviced by a council scheme where the alternative wastewater system will not be connected to the scheme OR

• a private scheme

the proposal should be discussed with the service supplier, as a full or partial exemption from any requirement for connection must obtained before the application for installation is submitted to the Department.

SA Water can be contacted in regard to sewerage systems on (08) 8207-7758 (General Manager - Retail). The local council Environmental Health Officer can advise you or direct you to the appropriate contact for STED or other schemes in their area. Go to the Local Government website to locate the Council responsible for a particular Town or Suburb.

Guides and Standards

The following guides are provided to assist in the preparation of an application for an alternative onsite system:

Composting toilets or other blackwater (toilet waste) systems (821Kb pdf)

Greywater systems:

• Manual bucketing and temporary diversion of Greywater (819Kb pdf)

• Public and Environmental Health Considerations: Greywater Use (823Kb pdf)

• Installation of Permanent Onsite Domestic Greywater Systems (850Kb pdf)

• Draft Guidelines for Greywater Systems Product Approval (862Kb pdf)

• Greywater guidelines for Plumbers (945Kb pdf)

Reedbed systems (881Kb pdf)

The following Australian Standards may be helpful in the design, manufacture and installation of alternative onsite systems. They can be purchased from the Standards Australia at 63 Greenhill Road, Wayville SA 5034. Telephone: 1300 65 46 46.

• AS/NZS 1546.1: 1998 Onsite domestic wastewater treatment units, Septic tanks

• AS/NZS 1546.2: 2001 Onsite domestic wastewater treatment units, Waterless composting toilets

• AS/NZS 1546.3: 2001 Onsite domestic wastewater treatment units, Aerated wastewater treatment systems

• AS/NZS 1547: 2000 Onsite domestic wastewater management (and land disposal and irrigation systems)

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