FACT SHEET
GRAVITY SEWER
BETTER SEWERAGE SERVICES FOR THE
COMMUNITY
As a community, we are increasingly aware that we have a
significant impact on the environment. It is sometimes
hard to recognise that a solution can be as close as our
backyards. Previous development in Melbourne resulted
in a large number of properties being built before
sewerage infrastructure was available. The result is over
17,000 properties across Melbourne’s northern and
eastern suburbs using septic tank systems which are no
longer performing to acceptable standards – each one is a
potential risk to the environment, public health and our
waterways.
New sewerage services for your community
Yarra Valley Water is providing a new sewerage service to
your community as part of our Sewerage Backlog Program.
This program is designed to provide new wastewater
management systems to properties currently serviced by
septic tank systems, but which are unable to contain their
domestic wastewater on-site all year round.
If a property is unable to contain its wastewater on-site all year
round, it means that the wastewater volume generated within
the house is in excess of what the soil in the dispersal field can
store. When this occurs (which may only be during the winter
months when the soil becomes saturated from rainfall and
evaporation rates are low), the excess flow runs off the
property into the nearest drain or waterway via either surface
or ground waters.
Septic tank systems are a contributor to pollution in your local
environment as they can leak potentially hazardous
wastewater into the soil and can pose a significant risk to
public health. They can even end up leaking pollutants into our
precious rivers and streams.
How were properties selected?
Properties on Yarra Valley Water’s Sewerage Backlog
Program were identified in your local council’s Domestic
Wastewater Management Plan as requiring a new sewerage
service. Each property identified has been deemed to be
unable to contain its wastewater on-site all year round, posing
a risk to public health and the environment.
Yarra Valley Water is working with councils to help stop the
damage being caused by septic tank systems. We are providing
sewerage services so you can manage your domestic
wastewater in a better and more environmentally friendly way.
It should be noted that Yarra Valley Water has a limited role in
the identification of properties to be provided with sewerage
services as part of the Sewerage Backlog Program. Our
responsibility lies with the selection and implementation of the
most suitable sewerage system for your area and its ongoing
operation and maintenance.
How do I maintain my septic tank while I’m waiting for the
new services?
Your local council sets guidelines for the proper maintenance of
your septic tank system. For further information about
maintaining your system in accordance with its permit, please
contact your local council directly.
Benefits of connecting to the sewerage system
By connecting to the sewerage system once it is provided, you
can reduce your impact on the local environment and will be
rewarded with benefits such as:
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Reduction of odours around your home
No more ongoing costs to maintain or upgrade your septic
tank system
Protecting public health
Greater flexibility of home improvement options and
Improved property value.
Should I connect?
Yes. Your property has been identified by your local council as
being unable to contain its wastewater on-site and is potentially
leaking hazardous waste into the groundwater table and local
waterways.
Is there a benefit to connecting early?
Yes. If you connect to the sewerage system within the first 12
months of it being declared available, the $500 Backlog
Contribution Fee will be waived.
Do I have to connect to the sewerage system?
Yes. Once a sewerage system is provided, property owners
are required to connect unless they can prove that they comply
with the regulations contained in Section 5 of the Environment
Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria’s Code of Practice – Onsite
Wastewater Management.
This document states that a septic tank system is not
permitted when reticulated sewerage is available, except
where:
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An EPA approved secondary treatment system is installed
prior to the property owners being notified of the intention
to sewer the property by Yarra Valley Water
• The septic tank system treats the wastewater to a high
standard, defined as:
– 20 mg/L of Biochemical Oxygen Demand
– 30 mg/L of Suspended Solids
– 10 cfu/100mL of E.coli
• The septic tank system is maintained and meets EPA’s
system approval
• All treated effluent is irrigated onsite to avoid all year
round soil saturation or surface runoff and is contained
within the allotment boundary.
Please note that this is a summary of the requirements
contained within the Code of Practice – Onsite Wastewater
Management.
You can obtain a copy of this document by contacting the EPA
directly or by downloading it from their website at
www.epa.vic.gov.au.
What if I’ve recently upgraded my septic system?
If you have recently upgraded to a system that complies with
the requirements contained in Section 5 of the EPA’s Code of
Practice – Onsite Wastewater Management, you will not be
required to connect to the sewerage system.
What type of wastewater management system will be
provided in my area?
Yarra Valley Water recognises that there are often a range of
alternative sewage management options, aside from
conventional reticulated sewerage schemes, that can be used
to manage wastewater within a Sewerage Backlog Area.
As Yarra Valley Water strives to implement sustainable
sewerage services, assessing these options forms an integral
part of the Yarra Valley Water design process.
There are a range of factors that Yarra Valley Water considers
when determining the most suitable sewerage service for an
area, including: environmental and social benefits; capital and
ongoing costs; and the condition of existing septic tanks.
If a reticulated sewerage scheme is provided to my area,
what type of sewerage system will service my property?
There are two types of reticulated sewerage systems that Yarra
Valley Water is currently installing – these are conventional
gravity sewers or a pressure sewer system.
The type of system that will service your property will be
determined during the design of the sewerage network and will
be based on a number of factors including the topography of the
land, and environmental disruption to name a few.
Based on our initial assessment, we are proposing to install a
gravity sewer system to service your property.
What costs are involved?
The costs to the customer to connect to the sewer system are:
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A $500 Backlog Contribution Fee. This is charged to the
customer at a rate of $25 per quarter over a five year
period. Whether you connect or not you will still be required
to pay the $500 Backlog Contribution Fee to contribute
towards the cost of bringing the sewer to the community as
the new sewer network is designed to benefit all future
generations. As an incentive to connect to the system, this
fee is waived if you apply for connection within the first 12
months of sewer becoming available and a copy of the
Plumbing Compliance Certificate is submitted to Yarra
Valley Water.
• The cost of connecting the property drain to the Yarra
Valley Water provided connection point (an inspection point
known as the 27A). Costs for internal plumbing will vary
depending on your property, so we are unable to provide a
cost estimate. A licensed plumber of your choice will be
able to provide a quote on the plumbing work required to
connect your household drain to the new sewer connection
point.
• The cost of decommissioning any existing septic tank or
wastewater treatment system.
• Any fees relating to applying to the Plumbing Industry
Commission for a modification to plumbing works if
required.
The costs to the customer for ongoing operation are:
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A fixed quarterly Sewerage Service Charge
A Sewage Disposal Charge, which is calculated based on
the water usage of the property.
What happens if I can’t afford to pay to connect?
Yarra Valley Water is committed to working with individuals and
families on a case by case basis. Some funding is available
through the Department of Human Services (DHS) for eligible
pension or concession card holders. If you hold a current
pension or concession card and are experiencing difficulty in
paying for your sewer connection, you can discuss your situation
further with Yarra Valley Water by calling Mark Salkunas on
9872 1414 (email: mark.salkunas@yvw.com.au ).
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Gravity Sewer System Components:
The items shown on the above diagram as ‘Yarra Valley Water Assets’ are installed and maintained by Yarra Valley Water. Please
note that the inspection opening is not usually built to surface.
For more information please contact:
Matt Tynkkynen
Project Manager
Yarra Valley Water
Phone: 9872 1738
Email: matthew.tynkkynen@yvw.com.au
WWW.YVW.COM.AU EMAIL: ENQUIRY@YVW.COM.AU
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