ROBERTSON SEWERAGE SCHEME
Residential Connection Fact Sheet
1. WHICH AREAS ARE TO BE PROVIDED WITH A SEWERAGE SERVICE?
It is proposed to serve land presently zoned for residential and business uses in Robertson.
2. WHY IS A SEWERAGE SYSTEM BEING INSTALLED?
The main aims of all sewerage systems are to protect residents from water borne diseases and to
better protect our environment. The number of dwellings all trying to dispose of wastewater within
the residentially zoned areas in Robertson has substantially increased over the years, putting
public health at risk and increasing the potential for pollution of waterways.
3. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO CONNECT TO THE SYSTEM?
All developed properties in the service area will be required to connect within 18 months once the
system is operational. This period will commence when notice is given that connection is available
and should give householders sufficient time to make arrangements for their property’s connection.
Properties with defective on-site systems and with holding well [pump out] systems will be required
to connect as quickly as possible.
Public health and the environment will be best protected by properties being connected to the
sewerage system as soon as it becomes available. Consequently, connecting to the system is
mandatory. When everybody connects to the system, the cost of the infrastructure is subsequently
evenly distributed amongst all residents.
4. HOW DO PEOPLE CONNECT?
A connection point will be provided within each property. Owners will need to engage a licenced
plumber to carry out the connection to the Council sewer main. You will need to apply for
connection to the sewer through Council and your plumber will arrange inspection and approval of
the work by Council. If you are using a plumber from outside the area, make sure they have
organised a permit and inspection through Council. Many plumbers from out of the Shire are not
familiar with Council’s requirements, which are sometimes different to Sydney Water’s
requirements.
5. WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO WITH THEIR EXISTING ON-SITE SYSTEMS?
They can be cleaned out, disinfected and then used for rainwater collection for garden use only.
Under no circumstances can they be used for holding water for household or drinking purposes.
Alternatively, they may be filled in, after being cleaned out, broken up and a hole punched in the
base. In some cases, it may be possible to remove and sell the system, or components of the
system. (Some older systems will not have current NSW Health accreditations and cannot be
resold.)
6. WHY CAN’T I KEEP MY AERATED SYSTEM?
There can be health risks associated with the irrigation of effluent from Aerated Wastewater
Treatment Systems on small residential lots, as well as environmental risks of pollution to
waterways during wet weather. If you wish, you may retain your tank, clean it satisfactorily, then
use it to collect roof water for garden irrigation.
Updated May 2011
7. HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
Connection Costs – These are one-off costs
that will be incurred by individual owners to
engage a licenced plumber to connect existing
household sanitary drainage from a point
outside the house to the connection point (or
junction), which will be located within each
property.
It is suggested that the most economic quotes
for undertaking connections are likely to be
obtained from plumbers if several neighbours
band together to have the work carried out at
the same time. Naturally there will be a
substantial variation in this cost between
properties and this will depend on the following
factors:
· Length of pipeline required;
· Percentage of rock excavation required (if
any);
· Location of existing sanitary drainage in
relation to the house and side boundaries; and
· Other site constraints such as driveways,
paving, fences, sheds, other services, trees
and garden beds.
It has been estimated that connection costs
could range from $900 up to $6,500 for very
difficult connections. The large majority of
connections are expected to be towards the
lower end of this range. These figures do not
include the cost of modifying or disposing of
existing on-site systems, but do include the
Council inspection and administration fees
itemised below.
Council administration fees (as applicable in
2010/11) for connection of a residential property
to sewer in newly served areas are:
· Sewer connection application fee (Sec 68)
$46.45
· One inspection
$45.40
· Drainage diagram
$51.60
In the areas to be served with gravity sewers,
the detailed design of the pipe layout has been
undertaken to ensure that the connection of
each house is feasible. The contractor carrying
out construction of the sewer mains will be
seeking input from land owners with regard to
the location of junctions for the connection of
each household. These will need to be lower
than existing household drainage to allow
connection.
In the areas to be served by pressure
sewerage, the location of the pumping pots on
each property will not be constrained by off-site
factors and it should be possible to locate these
adjacent to existing tanks to minimise
connection costs. However, house owners that
may be considering future extensions may
prefer to have the pumping pots located further
away to avoid the cost of relocation at a later
date.
Annual Sewerage Charge – This is levied on
all people in areas benefiting from a Council
operated sewerage scheme to meet operating
and administration costs, as well as repayment
of loans for the construction of capital works. A
proportion of the charge is included in the bills
that property owners receive three times per
year for water supply. The residential
sewerage charge for the 2010/11 financial year
was $579.00 per annum or $1.59 per day
across the Shire.
How this annual charge compares with current
sewage management costs depends on the
type of system in place for your property. For
properties relying on a pump out service, the
cost will be substantially less. The cost to
properties with onsite Aerated Wastewater
Treatment Systems will be around the same
taking into account inspections, service and
maintenance costs, as well as additional
household electricity usage. Properties with
existing septic tanks will have higher annual
costs.
FURTHER INFORMATION can be obtained by telephoning Wingecarribee Shire Council on
4868 0888 or visit www.wsc.nsw.gov.au