Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy

Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy
the town at this time, as additional water consumption will increase the on-site septic
systems loads.
Rainwater tanks can be less reliable than town water supplies and if gutters, roof surfaces
and tanks are not well maintained it may result in poor quality water. A full reticulated town
water supply would significantly reduce public health risks through ensuring that the water
supply meets the Australian Drinking Water Quality Guidelines. This option would also
eliminate the need for houses to import water during low rainfall and drought periods
In this case the average annual and peak reticulated water demands for the full
development situation would be about 20 ML/a and 0.14 ML/d respectively.
The scheme facilities necessary to provide a full reticulated water supply to Congo would be
similar to those required for a supplemented reticulated supply as discussed previously.
The facility and component sizes would however be required to be slightly larger. The
provision of larger pipes and facilities would enable the provision of fire fighting services at
minimal extra cost.
Improved Management of Existing On-site Wastewater Facilities
Sewage is currently treated by on-site systems. The seepage from existing on-site
wastewater management systems could be reduced by regularly emptying the contents of
the septic tanks and installing monitoring systems to prevent septic tank overflows and to
assess the integrity of the tanks. Regular pumpouts and monitoring has the potential to
minimise many of the environmental and public health impacts associated with the
operation of septic systems.
A single contract could be arranged by the Council or by the community such that the septic
tanks are pumped at set time intervals. This would cover both effluent and sullage
pumpout. The cost of this pumpout could be evenly split among the residents. To facilitate
pumping every tank would require a smaller holding tank or pumpout facility.
Although this opportunity would reduce the potential for waterway and aquifer
contamination, it may but result in additional community impacts, such as odours
associated with pumpouts and the movement of trucks in the neighbourhood.
A risk analysis undertaken for most of the villages of Eurobodalla indicated that Congo has
the least environmental and social risk associated with their current management practices.
Nevertheless, if Council adopts management solutions for the other small villages, there
may be economies of scale in considering the inclusion of Congo in a Shire-wide septic
management scheme.
Enhanced Management of Existing On-site Wastewater Facilities
There are several options available to upgrade the existing on-site wastewater
management systems to achieve greater public health and environmental outcomes. The
first option is to retain the existing septic tank and upgrade the on-site effluent management
system. An example of this would be the replacement of the adsorption trenches with lined
evapotranspiration beds, which achieve a higher level of water and nutrient uptake through
plants.
Another alternative is to upgrade the septic system to one that achieves nutrient removal
and therefore results in a higher quality effluent discharge (e.g. aerated tanks). This would
increase the potential uses available to the treated effluent.
Both these options would minimise the potential for groundwater contamination, and its
associated environmental problems as well as reducing the likelihood of public health
issues and odour complaints.
169