Land Application Area Guide for BioSeptic Sewage Systems

Maintaining your land application area
- system requirements - dos and don'ts

The land application area will have been approved and inspected by an officer from the council after the completion of the BioSeptic installation. Your land application area allows treated domestic wastewater to be managed entirely onsite. The area must be able to utilise the wastewater and treat any organic matter and wastes it may contain.

Although the land application area will be inspected and its condition reported by BioSeptic's service technician at each service visit, its long term upkeep and maintenance are your responsibility. Reading and implementing the following maintenance programme will ensure that you achieve the full benefit of having a BioSeptic system and that the land application area is effective for a long period of time.

Homeowner maintenance requirements

Ensure the effluent warning signs are clearly visible by maintaining your land application area free from weeds and debris.

Regular visual checking of your BioSeptic system's exterior and irrigation system will ensure that problems are located and fixed early.

The visual signs of the land application system failure include:

• surface ponding or run-off of treated wastewater
• soil quality deterioration
• poor vegetation growth
• unusual odours

Volume of water

Land application areas and systems for onsite application are designed and constructed in anticipation of the volume of waste to be discharged. Uncontrolled use of water may lead to poorly treated effluent being released from the system.

If the land application area is waterlogged and soggy, the following are possible causes:

• overloading your treatment system with excessive wastewater
• your land application area has been poorly designed
• stormwater is running onto the area

Help protect your health and the environment

Poorly maintained land application areas are a serious source of water pollution and may present health risks, cause odours and attract vermin and insects.

By looking after your sewage management system, you can do your part in helping to protect the environment and the health of you and your family.

Do's:

• DO construct and maintain diversion drains around the top sides of your land application area to divert surface water.
• DO ensure that your land application area is kept level by filling any depressions with good quality top soil (not clay).
• DO keep the grass regularly mowed and plant small trees around the perimeter to aid absorption and transpiration of the treated wastewater.
• DO visually check your irrigation system regularly to ensure the sprays are operating and free from blockages.
• DO ensure that any stormwater run-off from the roof, driveway and other impermeable surfaces is directed away from your land application area.
• DO ensure appropriate Warning signs are visible at all times in the vicinity of a spray irrigation area.
• DO maintain your disposal area. Do not alter it without the approval of your local council.
• DO periodically check the sprinklers, and remove sprinkler heads to check inside for possible blockages. It may be necessary to wash the sprinkler heads in a bucket of warm soapy water to remove small particles and grit.
• DO regularly move the location of surface spray irrigation systems around the designated irrigation areas, to avoid over saturation of the soil.
• DO ensure that the irrigation lines are not kinked or flattened (do not drive over the irrigation lines).
• DO keep irrigation lines pointing downhill (if possible) in frosty conditions to avoid water freezing in the lines.
• DO ensure subsurface irrigation systems are cycled to distribute wastewater evenly to all areas, and filters are kept clean.

Don'ts:

• DO NOT erect any structures, construct paths, graze animals or drive over your land application area.
• DO NOT plant large trees or shrubs that shade your land application area, as the area needs sunlight to aid in the evaporation and transpiration of the treated wastewater.
• DO NOT plant trees or shrubs near or on house drains.
• DO NOT allow stormwater lines to discharge into or near your land application area.
• DO NOT irrigate edible fruit or vegetables with wastewater from the system.
• DO NOT extract treated wastewater for potable (drinkable) use.
• DO NOT flood your land application area through the use of hoses or sprinklers from potable water sources.
• DO NOT intentionally divert wastewater off your property into water bodies, street gutters or the stormwater system.
• DO NOT irrigate wastewater onto hard surfaces such as concrete or paving etc.
• DO NOT let children or pets come into contact with treated effluent water from the system.

If you own an existing BioSeptic Sewage System or you're planning to install a new one and you're concerned about your land application area, feel free to contact us on 1300 658 111 for guidance.