Question On Notice No. 2738 asked in the Legislative Council on 11 February 2020 by Hon Dr Steve Thomas
Question Directed to the: Parliamentary Secretary representing the Minister for Health
Parliament: 40 Session: 1
Question
I refer to the Health Department's approval of non-reticulated sewage treatment, and I ask:
(a) do dual septic tanks and dual leach drain systems comply with Australian standards for sewage treatment in Western Australia;
(b) do those same systems in (a) remove all nitrogen and phosphorus;
(c) are local governments in Western Australia approving new septic tank and leach drain sewage units;
(d) if yes to (c), do these units comply with Australian standards;
(e) what standards are set for Approved Alternative Treatment Systems;
(f) can Approved Alternative Treatment Systems be tested in Western Australia for compliance;
(g) if yes to (f), at what cost;
(h) if no to (f), where can they be tested and at what cost; and
(i) what regulations do local government council health officers follow to approve sewage systems?
Answered on 18 March 2020
I am advised:
(a) No. In Western Australia (WA), the Code of Practice for Product Approval of Onsite Wastewater Systems sets the minimum requirements for manufacturers to obtain approval by the Chief Health Officer (CHO) to produce or sell their Onsite Wastewater Systems (OWSs).
(b) No.
(c) No. Local governments do not approve OWSs, but they do approve installation of CHO approved OWSs that are intended to serve:
· a single dwelling; or
· any other building that produces not more than 540 litres of sewage per day.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Standards are set in the Code of Practice for Product Approval of Onsite Wastewater Systems. Alternative Treatment Systems claiming secondary effluent quality are required to comply with AS 1546.3 onsite domestic wastewater treatment unit Part 3: secondary treatment systems.
(f) No.
(g) Not applicable.
(h) Alternative Treatment Systems can be tested and certified by the Joint Accreditation Product of Australia and New Zealand (“JAS-ANZ”) certification body which operates throughout Australia and New Zealand. Location and cost of testing by the certification body can be obtained by contacting them directly.
(i)(i) Local governments do not approve sewage systems as a product but do approve installations of certain systems in accordance with Health (Treatment of Sewage and Disposal of Effluent and Liquid Waste) Regulations 1974.