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Domestic & town
wastewater systems
Wastewater Management provides a range of scientific, engineering
and technical services related to public and environmental health,
specifically in the areas of sanitation and wastewater management:
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administers the Waste Control Regulations
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assesses and issues approvals for wastewater systems
(both collection and treatment) which come under the Waste Control
Regulations
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assesses and issues approvals for reclaimed water
reuse systems for all schemes, including SA Water systems
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support for local government on the
administration of the Public and Environmental Act and Regulations
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production of codes of practice,
guidelines, health promotional publications, brochures and fact sheets
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advice and support to other
units within the Department, the Public and Environmental Health Council, the
Minister for Health, State and Local Government agencies
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assessment of land development
activities.
Legislation in SA
The safe collection, treatment and
disposal of non-industrial wastewater (sewage and wastewater of domestic
origin) is managed in SA under the:
The Waste Control Regulations come into
effect in those areas where the SA Water Corporation's sewerage services
are not available. About one third of South Australians (400,000 people) are serviced by wastewater systems
administered under the Waste Control Regulations.
The Waste Control Regulations are,
depending on the type of system, administered by Local Councils or
authorised officers of the Department of Health with the delegated
authority from the Minister of Health.
Several categories of wastewater systems and a requirement for product approvals are covered by
the Regulations. For detailed information on each type of
system, the process for obtaining approval for installation, product
approval and the relevant authority to contact, click on the links below.
Standard Onsite
Wastewater Systems
These
are mostly household systems
which are designed, installed and operated using the following prescribed
Codes.
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Waste
Control Systems Standard for the Construction, Installation and
Operation of Septic Tank Systems in South Australia
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Supplement A ~ Aerobic Sand Filters
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Supplement B
~ Aerobic Wastewater
Treatment Systems
Alternative Onsite
Systems
Alternative onsite systems are those systems not covered under the codes
for the standard onsite systems above, but may be approved for
installation following individual assessment by the relevant authority. These alternative wastewater systems
incorporate various technologies including greywater collection and treatment systems
(laundry, bath, shower, kitchen wastewater), composting toilets, other
types of blackwater systems (toilet waste), reedbed wastewater treatment
and other alternative onsite treatment and disposal systems.
Wastewater systems for towns and other
large developments
Towns and other
larger developments include a cluster of premises, tourist developments, new subdivisions and
community developments on Aboriginal lands. The design of wastewater
collection and treatment systems in these locations may also provide for
the reuse and disposal of reclaimed water (treated effluent). These
systems can include gravity raw sewage systems, a combination of gravity
and pumped mains, vacuum collection systems and pumping from each premises to
common mains or septic tank effluent drainage schemes, as well as various
types of treatment and reuse systems.
Pre-manufactured
products for sale and use in installations in SA
Products pre-manufactured for sale and
use in waste control / wastewater systems installed in South Australia are subject
to approval by the relevant authority. This includes pre-manufactured
septic tanks and aerobic units of various materials or
design, other all-waste wastewater systems, greywater systems, composting
toilets, other blackwater / toilet waste systems and yellow water (urine)
separation / treatment systems.
Reclaimed Water
Reuse
The
reuse of reclaimed water (treated effluent) is encouraged. However, the
relevant authority must establish that the extent of treatment, the method
of application and the reuse purpose for reclaimed water does not create
public health risks and adverse environmental impacts before approval is
granted. Reuse is only allowed for non-potable (not for human consumption)
purposes.
Draft Standards for
Connection to a Reticulated Community Wastewater System
The Department of Health has developed this draft Code
to assist environmental health officers in processing applications for
approval to connect property waste control systems to the various types
of installed Community Wastewater Systems.
Product approval
Products for use in waste control
system installations in South Australia must be approved by the
relevant authority (authorised officers of the Department of Health with the delegated authority from the Minister of Health).
Approved wastewater products list |
Standard Onsite
Wastewater Systems | Wastewater systems
for towns and other larger developments |
Alternative Onsite
Systems |
Pre-manufactured
products for sale and use in installations in SA |
Reclaimed Water
Reuse |
Seminar 2006 |
Seminar 2003
Applied Environmental Health structure
Presentations from
the Wastewater Management Seminar 2006 held in
February 2006 in
South Australia are now available online ~
Click here
for links.
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