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Performance Objectives
The following performance objectives have been formulated by the "Department of Local Government" to assist in ensuring that On Site Sewage Management for single households is undertaken appropriately and will not affect public health, or the environment.
On Site Sewage Management systems should meet the following long-term environmental and health objectives:
Prevention of Public Health Risks
Sewage contains bacteria, viruses, parasites and other disease causing organisms. Contact with effluent should be minimised or eliminated, particularly for children. Residuals such as composted waste materials should always be handled with care. Treated sewage and effluent should not be used on edible crops that are to be consumed.
Protection of Lands
On Site Sewage Management systems should not cause deterioration of land and vegetation quality through soil structure degradation, salinisation, water logging, chemical contamination or soil erosion.
Protection of Surface Waters
On Site Sewage Management systems should be selected, sited, designed, constructed, operated and maintained so that surface waters are not contaminated by any flow from both land application areas and/or treatment systems (including effluent, rainfall runoff and contaminated groundwater flows).
Protection of Ground Waters
On Site Sewage Management systems should be selected, sited, designed, constructed, operated and maintained so that ground waters are not contaminated by any flow from both land application areas and/or treatment systems. Please also see the website section on "Protection of Groundwater".
Conservation and Reuse of Resources
The resources in domestic wastewater (including nutrients, organic matter and water) should be identified and utilised as much as possible within the bounds posed by the other performance objectives listed here. Water conservation practices should be utilised, and wastewater minimised.
Protection of Community Amenity
On Site Sewage Management systems should be selected, sited, designed, constructed, operated and maintained so that they do not unreasonably interfere with quality of life, and, where possible, so that they add to the local amenity - special considerations should be given to aesthetics, odour, dust, vectors and excessive noise.
Further information, including the Department of Local Government's "Environment and Health Protection Guidelines - On Site Sewage Management for Single Households" can be viewed at the department's website at: www.dlg.nsw.gov.au.