Part C3 On-site wastewater management
Introduction to this Part
This Part sets out the requirements for any part of an on-site wastewater management system from the point of connection of a sanitary drainage system up to and including the appropriate means of waste disposal.
Objectives
C3O1
Objective
New for 2022
The Objective of this Part is to—
- safeguard people from illness, injury or loss (including loss of amenity) due to the failure of an on-site wastewater management system installation; and
- ensure that an on-site wastewater management system installation is suitable; and
- conserve water and energy; and
- safeguard the environment; and
- safeguard public and private infrastructure; and
- ensure that an on-site wastewater management system installation is designed and is capable of being maintained so that throughout its serviceable life it will continue to satisfy Objectives (a) to (e).
Functional Statements
C3F1
On-site wastewater management
New for 2022
On-site wastewater management systems must collect, contain, treat, assimilate and process wastewater, human excreta, or both so that public health and environmental standards required by the authority having jurisdiction are achieved.
Performance Requirements
C3P1
Health impacts
New for 2022
On-site wastewater management systems must protect public health by ensuring that—
- risks associated with the discharge of treated wastewater and/or the end product from a composting toilet to the environment are minimised; and
- foul air and gasses are prevented from accumulating within or entering into buildings; and
- the likelihood of contamination of the drinking water supply is avoided.
VIC C3P1 Health impactsNew for 2022
On-site wastewater management systems must protect public health by ensuring that—
- risks associated with the discharge of treated wastewater and/or the end product from a composting toilet to the environment are minimised; and
- foul air and gasses are prevented from accumulating within or entering into buildings; and
- the likelihood of contamination of the drinking water supply is avoided, and
- it complies with the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction.
Explanatory information
Wastewater contains a range of pathogens that can cause illness in humans. A well designed, maintained, and operated wastewater system improves sanitation and reduces the risk to public and environmental health. Poorly designed and maintained wastewater systems can result in, contamination of drinking water and recreational water sources, including those used for food production, as well as increased risks of direct wastewater contact by the public.
C3P2
Environmental impacts
New for 2022
On-site wastewater management systems must protect the environment by ensuring that—
- surface water and ground water are not polluted: and
- soil productivity is maintained or enhanced; and
- the likelihood of contamination of soils, ground water and waterways is avoided.
C3P3
Community systems
New for 2022
On-site wastewater management systems must minimise the impacts on and maintain and enhance community amenity. They must ensure that the on-site wastewater management system design and its implementation contribute to improving and sustaining aesthetic values within individual properties and groups of properties.
C3P4
Discharge to a Network Utility Operator sewer
New for 2022
Where an on-site wastewater management system discharges to the point of connection of a Network Utility Operator's sewer system, the connection must comply with the Network Utility Operator requirements.
C3P5
General requirements
New for 2022
On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must be designed, constructed, installed, replaced, repaired, altered and maintained—
- with required treatment and storage capacity for the volume and make up of waste and frequency of discharge for disposal; and
- with required size, strength and rigidity for the nature, flow rates, volume of wastes and/or waste products which must be processed; and
- using materials which are impervious both to the waste for which disposal is required and to water; and
- to avoid the likelihood of surface water and stormwater entering the system; and
- in accordance with the requirements and agreement of the relevant authority having jurisdiction.
General requirements
On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must be designed and constructed—
- with required treatment and storage capacity for the volume and make up of waste and frequency of discharge for disposal; and
- with required size, strength and rigidity for the nature, flow rates, volume of wastes and/or waste products which must be processed; and
- using materials which are impervious both to the waste for which disposal is required and to water; and
- to avoid the likelihood of surface water and stormwater entering the system; and
- so that access or inspection openings provided for desludging and maintenance terminate at or above finished surface level.
- so that the installation throughout its serviceable life will continue to satisfy the requirements of C3P1 to C3P9.
Explanatory information
For alternative venting arrangements, see clause C2D6 in sanitary drainage.
General requirements
On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must be designed and constructed—
- with required treatment and storage capacity for the volume and make up of waste and frequency of discharge for disposal; and
- with required size, strength and rigidity for the nature, flow rates, volume of wastes and/or waste products which must be processed; and
- using materials which are impervious both to the waste for which disposal is required and to water; and
- to avoid the likelihood of surface water and stormwater entering the system.
C3P6
Land application systems
New for 2022
- complete the treatment, uptake and absorption of the final effluent within the boundaries of the approved area; and
- protect against internal contamination; and
- provide ventilation to avoid the likelihood of foul air and gases from accumulating in the system; and
- transfers wastes safely and hygienically.
- avoid the likelihood of the creation of unpleasant odours or the accumulation of offensive matter; and
- avoid the likelihood of stormwater run-off entering the system; and
- avoid the likelihood of root penetration or ingress of ground water entering the system; and
- avoid the likelihood of unintended or uncontrolled discharge; and
- avoid the likelihood of blockage and leakage; and
- avoid the likelihood of damage from superimposed loads or ground movement; and
- avoid the likelihood off effluent and foul air and gasses entering the building.
Land application systems
- complete the treatment, uptake and absorption of the final effluent within the boundaries of the approved area; and
- protect against internal contamination; and
- provide ventilation to avoid the likelihood of foul air and gases from accumulating in the system.
- avoid the likelihood of the creation of unpleasant odours or the accumulation of offensive matter; and
- avoid the likelihood of stormwater run-off entering the system; and
- avoid the likelihood of root penetration or ingress of ground water entering the system; and
- avoid the likelihood of unintended or uncontrolled discharge; and
- avoid the likelihood of blockage and leakage; and
- avoid the likelihood of damage from superimposed loads or ground movement.
C3P7
Access for maintenance
New for 2022
- provide vehicle access for collection, if necessary; and
- avoid the likelihood of unauthorised access by people; and
- provide safe access for cleaning, clearing blockages, maintenance, measurement and performance sampling.
- provide safe access, as required, for clearing blockages and maintenance; and
- incorporate provisions, as required, for effective cleaning.
Access for maintenance
- provide vehicle access for collection, if necessary; and
- avoid the likelihood of unauthorised access by people; and
- permit cleaning, maintenance, measurement and performance sampling.
- provide access, as required, for maintenance; and
- incorporate provisions, as required, for effective cleaning.
C3P8
Uncontrolled discharge
New for 2022
On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must avoid blockage or uncontrolled discharge.
C3P9
Identification
New for 2022
On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must permit the manufacturer model, serial number and designed capacity to be easily accessed and identifiable after installation.
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
C3D1
Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions
New for 2022
C3D2
Septic tanks
New for 2022
A septic tank must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.
Septic tanks
A septic tank must be in accordance with AS/NZS 1546.1.
C3D3
Composting toilets
New for 2022
A waterless composting toilet must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.
Composting toilets
A waterless composting toilet must be in accordance with AS/NZS 1546.2.
C3D4
Secondary treatment systems
New for 2022
A secondary treatment system must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.
Secondary treatment systems
A secondary treatment system must be in accordance with AS 1546.3.
C3D5
Domestic grey water treatment systems
New for 2022
A domestic greywater treatment system must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.
Domestic grey water treatment systems
A domestic grey water treatment system must be in accordance with AS/NZS 1546.4.
C3D6
Land application systems
New for 2022
- Damage from root penetration, superimposed loads or ground movement.
- Entry of water, foul air or gasses from the system into buildings.
- Entry of stormwater into the system.
- Blockage and unintended or uncontrolled discharge.
- Protection against internal contamination.
- Access for maintenance and cleaning.
- Ventilation to avoid foul air and gasses accumulation in the system.
Land application systems
A land application system must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.
Land application systems
A domestic land application system must be in accordance with AS/NZS 1547.
C3D7
Common effluent drainage systems
New for 2022
A common effluent drainage system must be in accordance the South Australia Community Wastewater Management Systems Code.
Common effluent drainage systems
A common effluent drainage system must be in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.2.