Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy

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Eurobodalla Integrated Water Cycle Management Strategy
FACT SHEET 11
Decentralised Sewage Management
What is Decentralised Sewage Management?
Decentralised sewage management is an alternative option to connecting all properties to a
centralised sewage treatment system. It can treat sewage from a single household or a small
community.
Decentralised sewage management includes septic systems and aerated treatment with
effluent disposal options including pump-outs, adsorption trenches, lined evapotranspiration
beds and spray irrigation.
In Eurobodalla there are currently 3 400 on-site sewage treatment systems registered with
Council. The cumulative effects of multiple poorly performing and aging systems can be
significant. The Wallis Lakes oyster incident provides a good example of the potential risks and
flow on effects from poorly treated sewage.
Decentralised sewage management systems should meet the following environmental and
health performance objectives over the long term:
♦ Minimised risk to public health
♦ Protection of land
♦ Protection of groundwater
♦ Conservation and reuse of resources
♦ Protection of community amenity
♦ Protection of surface waters.
♦ Specific decentralised sewage management opportunities can be found in section 9.
Examples
The towns of Nelligen, South Durras, Bodalla, Mystery Bay, Akolele, Potato Point, Tilba Tilba,
Central Tilba, Rosedale, Guerilla Bay and Congo use decentralised sewage systems.
Benefits
Can adapt the system to reflect local characteristics
Sewage is treated on site.
Effluent treated to a high quality can be used locally.
Improved compatibility with other IWCM options.
Downstream benefits including reducing or delaying large infrastructure costs (size of mains
and STP augmentations).