NEWS ARTICLE ARCHIVES
Home Owner & Council Responsibilities for Septic Systems from BioSeptic
If you own a septic system in your home, you are responsible for ensuring that it is safe and working properly. There are several health hazards for a failing septic system both for your family and the community, and it may also be impacting the environment.
Both local Councils and home owners share big responsibilities in ensuring that the septic system is functional for the health and safety of families, the community and the environment.
As a septic system owner, you are responsible for:
- ensuring the house drains and tank don't leak
- getting things fixed if they are not working properly
- keeping the system well maintained
- ensuring the system is checked regularly
- getting the tank pumped (de-sludged) when it becomes too full to process the flow going into it
- maintaining and protecting the disposal field
- complying with the council's requirements for installation, maintenance, service and operation and paying fees for inspections or maintenance.
Local Councils also share the responsibility in ensuring that all septic systems in NSW are registered and fully functional.
Councils are responsible for:
- providing general services for the protection of the environment, public health and safety
- helping people keep their septic systems working well
- providing a scheme of systematic management for all of the septic systems in the council area, including environmental monitoring and technical advice
- providing advice and contact information when people need professional services to design or maintain septic systems
- regulating the installation, operation and maintenance of septic systems, conducting audits and inspections and keeping a register of systems in use in the council area
- providing community information and education programs
- monitoring and reporting on the overall impact of effluent and other by-products from septic systems in the state of the environment report for the council area
- Implementing strategies for ecologically sustainable development.
So if you're a home owner, be sure to check your septic system is up to scratch and find out if your local council is keeping up with their obligations. Why not share this article to someone who owns a septic tank?
Source: NSW Department of Local Government, 2000: http://www.dlg.nsw.gov.au/dlg/dlghome/documents/Information/ssguide.pdf
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