Trade Wastewater
What is trade wastewater?
Wastewater from your business (sometimes called trade wastewater) is any water contaminated as a result of your business activity. It does not include the sewage that goes into the sewer from toilets, sinks and laundries from homes. Wastewater from businesses may contain pollutants such as suspended solids, grease and other chemicals. Business trade wastewater does not include the sewage from business toilet facilities. Trade wastewater is not necessarily toxic or harmful but can be a problem if it is put directly into the sewer without first removing problem substances.
Do you need a trade waste permit?
If your business produces wastewater from processes or activities carried out as part of your operations you may need a written agreement or permit to discharge the wastewater to the sewer. This agreement may specify a pre-treatment process, discharge standards and a monitoring program. You will be charged a fee based upon the concentration and mass of pollutants that you are discharging.
Sydney Water and the Hunter Water Corporation have trade waste officers who will give you advice on your wastewater requirements and help you fill out an application form to obtain your trade wastewater permit and conditions.
The trade wastewater agreement will also probably give the sewerage utility the right to inspect and check your premises for compliance with the agreement.
You should know that illegal discharges to the sewer might result in disconnection from the sewer system, fines or prosecution.
Which wastewater utility do you need to contact?
Sydney Water in the Sydney, Blue Mountains and Illawarra area, and Hunter Water Corporation in the Newcastle region, are the two major wastewater utilities in NSW. Outside these areas councils manage trade wastewater and may require businesses to have trade waste facilities and a permit.
Is there any other way to dispose of liquid waste (wastewater) from your business?
If you are not connected to the sewer, and/or your liquid waste cannot be directed to the sewer even after pre-treatment, then you will need to collect the liquid waste in drums or tanks and have the containers transported to a licensed waste facility. All tanks and drums containing liquid wastes should be stored in a roofed and bunded area.
Further information
- DECC Environment Line, Tel: 131 555
- Sydney Water, Tel: 132 092
- Hunter Water Corporation, Tel: 1300 657 657
- Your local council if outside areas covered by Sydney Water or the Hunter Water Corporation
- Yellow Pages – look under 'Sewage & Wastewater Treatment', 'Effluent Treatment Equipment & Services' and 'Environmental & Pollution Consultants'.
Page last updated: 27 February 2011
