On Site Sewage Management Systems (OSSMS), such as septics, process waste water generated from the household where the property is not connected to Council’s reticulated sewerage system.
On-site sewage management systems are like miniature sewage treatment plants. If they are misused, overworked, or incorrectly maintained, they will fail and cause problems such as:
- Public health risks due of people to exposure to bacteria, viruses, parasites and other disease-causing organisms from raw sewage. Diseases from exposure to raw sewage include:
- Bacterial: Salmonella, E.coli, Shigella, Diarrhoea, Trachoma.
- Viral: Gastroenteritis, Hepatitis A.
- Parasites: Giardia, Cryptosporidium, Dwarf Tapeworm, Threadworm, Hookworm.
- Insects and vermin can act as vectors of disease where they have access to raw sewage
- Ground and surface water contamination. Pollution of ground water, bore water supplies and creek/river systems. A badly maintained septic can cause impacts up to 50km downstream in the right conditions.
- Soil and vegetation degradation impacting useability of the land.
- Local amenity issues such as aesthetics, odour, dust, vectors (such as mosquitoes) and excessive noise from faulty pumps.
Council’s Responsibility – Council maintains a register of all identified OSSMS in the CGRC area, and have adopted a Policy to ensure public health and environmental standards are achieved with the least intrusion of residents and landowners.
Policy & Factsheets
Council’s OSSMS Policy, inspection program and education resources aims to;
- educate householders and businesses about operating and maintaining their OSSMS in a safe, sustainable and responsible manner,
- reduce the number of pollution incidents caused by failing systems, and
- help improve and protect the environment and the public health of the local community.
OSSMS Policy
Factsheet 1 – What is an OSSMS and your responsibilities
Factsheet 2 – What is a Septic system?
Factsheet 3 – What is an Aerated Wastewater Treatment System (AWTS)?
Factsheet 4 – Looking after your OSSMS. Do and Don’t Hints
Factsheet 5 – Installing or Altering an OSSMS
Factsheet 6 – What to expect when you’re inspected
If you have any queries in regards to an OSSMS, please do not hesitate to contact Council’s Environmental Health Officer on 1300 459 689.