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Licensing guidelines for sewage treatment systems

Licences for sewage treatment plants have been extended to cover entire sewage treatment systems, including overflows from pumping stations and reticulation systems. This new licensing approach aims to minimise the potential harm to public health and the environment from the release of sewage into the environment. Sewer overflows are one of the most significant diffuse sources of water pollution in urban areas.

Licensing Guidelines for Sewage Treatment Systems (STSLicensingGuidelines.pdf 174 kb requires Acrobat Reader) help licensees in non-metropolitan areas, generally local councils and other water authorities, understand the new process for licensing whole sewage treatment systems. The requirements described in this document relate to sewage treatment systems other than those operated by Sydney and Hunter Water, for which a separate licensing process has been completed.

The guidelines explain:

  • what sewage treatment system licences are
  • the potential impacts of sewer overflows on public health and the environment
  • the EPA's approach to sewer overflow management
  • licensing techniques to minimise sewer overflows.
Page last updated: 22 March 2012