Defence National
Environmental
Standard
Standard for the Prevention and Management of
Pollution From Wastewater
Quality information
DNES Approver
DNES Exemption
Approver
This DNES takes effect from the Date of Issue
Document number
Revision
DNES Owner
Date of Issue
Date of Next Revision
DNES Endorsers
Terms, definitions and acronyms
Standard definitions for key terms (including acronyms where applicable) are included in the table
below.
Table 1
Key terms, definitions and acronyms
Term
Acronym (if
applicable)
Definition
Australian and
New Zealand
Environmental
Conservation
Council
ANZECC
Independent body which prescribes the ANZECC 2000 guidelines for fresh and marine
water quality
Base Services
Contractor
Environmental
Manager
BSCEM
Provides ongoing administrative assistance, analysis and technical support on
environmental matters to base services contractor.
Base Support
Manager
BSM
Under the Base Accountabilities Model, a BSM is the DSRG representative accountable
for delivery of base support management and services, including integrated delivery of
agreed support services, for a given base.
Corrective action
Defence
Environmental
Management
System
Action to minimise and rectify the environmental harm resulting from an environmental
incident and/or to eliminate the cause of a detected environmental non-conformance.
EMS
The Defence EMS operates in support of the Defence Environmental Strategic Plan
2010-2014 and aims to deliver environmental services in an integrated and systematic
manner to support ADF capability.
Defence Estate
Land owned, leased or used by the Department of Defence.
Defence
National
Environmental
Standard
DNES
A set of quality or performance conditions specifying Defence’s minimum acceptable level
of environmental management for an environmental factor, activity or process.
Directorate of
Energy
Efficiency and
Resource
Management
DEERM
Directorate within Environment and Engineering (E&E) branch of DSRG Infrastructure
Division, responsible for policy and technical advice relating to energy efficiency and
resource management, including pollution prevention.
Environment
Environmental
Clearance
Certificate
Surroundings in which Defence personnel and its contractors operate, including air,
water, land, natural resources, heritage, flora, fauna, humans, and their interrelation.
ECC
Document that details a planned activity, mitigation measures relevant to the planned
activity and sets out conditions to minimise the likelihood of significant environmental
impacts arising. ECCs are used by exception in instances where the planned activity is
not fully covered by existing operational controls.
Environmental
Factor
Government
Furnished
Facilities
A manageable and measurable environmental item that needs to be considered and/or
actively managed due to Defence’s interest or obligation. The term replaces the previous
concepts used within Defence of environmental values, environmental aspects, assets,
areas of interest, areas of concern, and valued environmental components (VECs).
GFF
Facilities built and owned by the Commonwealth entrusted to a contractor as part of a
specific contract delivery arrangement
Incident
Any occurrence that can result in an impact or impacts on the environment. This includes
incidents, complaints, near misses, observations and non-conformances.
Incident Form
Electronic Form linked to the Incident Register, where information on the incident and
associated actions are recorded. The Incident Form comprises three parts:
Part A: First stop form completed by Originator to capture initial information about
an incident;
Part B: Review and verification of initial information; and
Part C: Form used to guide and document the findings of an investigation into an
incident and prescribe subsequent actions.
Incident Register
A centralised, electronic management platform for the collation, storage and tracking of
Incident information.
Nonconformance
An action or omission that did not meet Defence’s environmental operational controls
including Defence Instructions, Defence Environmental Standards, Environmental
Clearance Certificate conditions, Range Standing Orders, Standard Operating
Acronym (if
applicable)
Term
Definition
Procedures; or an action or omission that did not meet external conditions placed on
Defence.
Notification Alert
An automated email or system notification to relevant stakeholders and decision makers
describing the contents of the completed form or updated register.
Operational
control
(environmental)
Measures applied to activities, products and services to prevent, or reduce the extent of,
environmental impact.
Personnel
Members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF), members of the Australian Public
Service (APS) employed by Defence, contractors/subcontractors and/or consultants
performing work or providing services for Defence, and third parties or other visitors to
the Defence Estate.
Regional
Environment
Officer
REO
Supports and represents the Senior Environment Manager at bases and groups of bases.
Senior ADF
Officer
SADFO
Under the Base Accountabilities Model, the role of SADFO is an additional role for an
appointed senior military officer on a given base. SADFOs are required to provide broad
leadership to all military staff on the base, consistent with the Chief of Defence Force’s
expectations of all senior ADF officers.
Senior
Environment
Manager
SEM
Senior professional advisor for environmental matters in a DSRG region, advising
Defence personnel including senior Commanders and managers. Leads the
environmental team and manages the regional implementation of national strategic
programs.
Standard
Operating
Procedures
SOP
Operational control that specifies how a standard activity should be undertaken. This may
include specific requirements to minimise WHS and environmental risks. Initial incident
responses may also be detailed for certain activities.
Standing Orders
Operational control that provides enforceable instructions relevant to a Defence Property.
Traditionally, environmental instructions are included as Chapter 13 in Range Standing
Orders. Standing Orders may sometimes be referred to as Standing Instructions by some
services.
Technical
Authority
TA
Wastewater
WW
Water Sensitive
Urban Design
WSUD
Primary source of technical guidance for a given subject matter area.
Sewage (backwater) from toilet wastes, and greywater from other ablutions, mess
activities or approved industrial sources
Use of purpose designed landscaping to improve reduce irrigation needs, increase water
retention and improve runoff water quality
Purpose
1.
The purpose of this DNES is to establish the minimum requirements for the
prevention of pollution from wastewater. The purpose of this DNES is to set the
minimum performance requirements for wastewater management and reuse on
the Defence Estate.
Scope
2.
This DNES applies to all Defence Establishments including Government
Furnished Facilities (GFF) operated by contractors on behalf of Defence.
Related Defence Standards
3.
Stormwater DNES (to be developed).
4.
Refer to the DNES Register on the Defence EMS Website for a list of all DNES
and their current development status.
Performance Requirements
5.
The following minimum management and performance levels apply at the
Defence Establishment level and are required to be actioned by appropriate site
personnel. If a minimum performance level is not achievable it must be reported
as such, consistent with reporting requirements contained within this DNES. If
Defence Establishments are already meeting these minimum performance
levels, there is no need for further action other than to ensure ongoing
compliance.
Minimum Management Measures
6.
All Defence facilities with a wastewater management/treatment system must
develop a Wastewater Management Plan if not already in force. The plan must
be have a framework which has the following objectives:
a. Safety of base personnel and of civilian population utilizing recycled
water from the Defence estate
b. Protection of Defence Wastewater Assets
c. Protection of treatments processes
d. Facilitation of regulatory and licence compliance
e. Maximizing resource efficiency in wastewater management through the
system lifecycle, including promoting water reuse where possible.
7.
In accordance with policy management principles, development and
implementation of this plan will aim to ensure that:
a. Wastewater volumes are minimized to as low as reasonably practicable
(policy principle 1)
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b. Wastewater is collected and treated for re-use on-site wherever
practical (policy principles 1 and 2 and 4)
c. Wastewater that cannot be treated onsite is removed by an
appropriately licensed contractor (policy principle 3)
d. Wastewater from the sewage system or contaminated water from
Defence activities must not discharge into the stormwater system
(policy principle 5)
e. Wastewater discharged to third party systems such as urban sewerage
systems, must comply with all conditions imposed on the discharge,
including monitoring and reporting requirements (policy principle 7)
f. Waste streams which have pollutants in excess of typical wastewater
(such as trade waste from industrial activities) must be prevented from
entering the wastewater system (policy principle 8)
g. Wastewater management systems are operated and maintained
appropriately
h. Where water re-use is not practical, wastewater release to the
environment must meet ANZECC 2000 trigger values (policy
principle 9).
Minimum Performance Levels – Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure
8.
In accordance with policy management principle 1, management of safe reuse
of wastewater must be based on the National Water Quality Management
Strategy Australian Guidelines suite of documents for Water Recycling:
Managing Health and Environmental Risks (2006) published by the NRMMC.
This includes:
a. Document 21a: A guide to the National guidelines for water recycling National Water Quality Management Strategy: Overview of the
Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing health and
environmental risks – 2008
b. Document 21: Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing
health and environmental risks (Phase 1) – 2006
c. Document 22: Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing
health and environmental risks (Phase 2) - Augmentation of drinking
water supplies – 2008
d. Document 24: Australian guidelines for water recycling: Managing
health and environmental risks - Managed aquifer recharge – 2009.
9.
Design of new build wastewater systems will conform to Water Services
Association of Australia National Codes for the Urban Water Industry and
applicable Australian Standards including:
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a. AS/NZS 1546 suite related to on-site domestic wastewater treatment
units
b. AS/NZS 1547:2012 On-site domestic wastewater management
c. AS/NZS 4494:1998 Discharge of commercial and industrial liquid waste
to sewer - General performance requirements
d. AS 2200-2006/Amdt 1-2009 Design charts for water supply and
sewerage
e. AS1940 Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids.
10. Management of wastewater systems will be based on the National Water
Quality Management Strategy suite of documents ‘Guidelines for Sewerage
Systems’ published by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council
(NRMMC) which includes:
a. Document 11:
management
Guidelines
for
Sewerage
Systems
–
Effluent
b. Document 12: Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Acceptance of
Trade Waste (Industrial Waste)
c. Document 13: Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Sludge (Biosolids)
Management
d. Document 14: Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Reclaimed Water
e. Document 15: Guidelines for Sewerage Systems – Sewerage System
Overflows.
11. All wastewater pipework and discharge points must be clearly identified and
colour coded to AS 1345-1995 Identification of the contents of pipes, conduits
and ducts.
12. Where wastewater discharges to urban sewerage systems, the wastewater
must meet all licence conditions imposed on the discharge.
13. ANZECC 2000 trigger values will be adopted for all water quality parameters
where discharge to the environment occurs. Trigger values must be selected to
reflect the natural water quality parameters of the receiving environment.
14. Where ANZECC 2000 trigger values are being exceeded, or a likely to be
exceeded, the management approach as outlined in the ANZECC 2000 will be
used to identify environmental values, water quality guidelines and water quality
objectives which will inform the development of appropriate water quality
triggers. This will then guide the development of appropriate corrective actions.
Incident, Emergency and Non-Conformance
15. All Defence personnel and contractors are responsible to report any pollution
event to the REO and their direct supervisor.
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16. In all incidents, priority must first be allocated to minimizing or preventing
environmental impact before reporting is to take place.
17. The REO shall be responsible for external reporting of any uncontained
pollution event. Any significant spills leaving the site, deemed likely to impact
human health or the environment, shall be actively managed and reported to
the relevant State Environmental Protection Agency and other prescribed
agencies at the legislated State notice period.
18. Refer to DNES – EP3: Environmental Incident Management for general incident
and non-conformance management requirements under the Defence EMS.
19. Refer to Base Emergency Response Plans for additional base-specific incident
and emergency management requirements.
Monitoring, Audit and Review
20. A risk-based annual monitoring and reporting plan will be developed as part of
the wastewater management process. This will identify all monitoring and
reporting requirements including monitoring requirements within the sewerage
reticulation system, the sewage treatment plan, and at any discharge point.
21. Wastewater that is to be treated or re-used onsite shall be monitored for
pollutants annually or other appropriate frequency; wastewater that is being
removed by a contractor does not require pollutant monitoring.
22. Water for offsite discharge shall be tested to ensure discharge meets ANZECC
2000 Guidelines annually or other appropriate frequency to maintain safety or
environmental values of receiving waters.
23. Auditing and monitoring and analysis reports must be performed annually by a
Defence accredited auditor.
Reporting
24. Reporting is to be against the minimum performance levels contained above.
Reporting is to be brief and factual and to consist of the following:
a. A qualitative estimate of per cent compliance with each Minimum
Performance Requirement
b. Actions outstanding per performance requirement that are needed to
reach 100% compliance
c. A short summary of any pollution incidents and their causes
25. Reporting should be in accordance with existing periodic environmental
reporting practices.
26. A regular annual report will be provided to the SEM and then to DEERM for
each Wastewater Management Plan. This will provide an update on the delivery
of the plan, the status of any construction/upgrade activities, details of the
completed maintenance regime, and any water quality and quantity data
collected. This will include an assessment of water re-use volumes if applicable.
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27. All wastewater spills and incidents must be reported to the SEM or REO for
assessment as to whether a significant impact is likely.
28. General reporting requirements under the Defence EMS are addressed in other
DNES – refer to the Defence Environmental Standards Register (published on
EMS Intranet Site).
User feedback
29. Personnel are encouraged to provide feedback on this DNES. Feedback will be
used to inform future versions of this document, which is reviewed at regular
intervals as part of the Defence EMS continual improvement process.
30. Provide
any
feedback
on
this
DNES
via
email
to
environmentandheritage@defence.gov.au. Please include the DNES title in the
subject line of email/feedback.
Useful references
A selection of useful references is provided below. This is not an exhaustive list.
CH2MHILL (2005) Environmental Manager’s Guide Sewerage Treatment Plants,
Department of Defence
Department of Defence (No Date) Wastewater and Stormwater Management Position
Paper, Department of Defence.
National Water Quality Management Strategy suite of documents:
http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/quality/
New South Wales Licensing guidelines for sewage treatment plants:
http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/water/stslicensingguidelines.pdf
Tasmanian emission limit guidelines for sewage treatment plants:
http://epa.tas.gov.au/documents/emission_limit_guidelines_june_2001.pdf
Water directorate manuals for sewer reticulation and sewer treatment plants:
http://www.waterdirectorate.asn.au/Bookshop.aspx
Water Services Association of Australia National Codes background:
https://www.wsaa.asn.au/Codes/Documents/Codes%20Brochure%20December%20
2012%20Version%204.pdf
https://www.wsaa.asn.au/Codes/Pages/National-Codes-List.aspx
Queensland wastewater code guidelines:
http://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/SiteCollectionDocuments/qld-plumbing-wastewater-codeguidelines.pdf
Victorian EPA Code of Practice for Small Wastewater Treatment Plants:
http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/~/media/Publications/500.pdf
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