Wastewater

Wastewater Management

There are five sewerage treatment works in our region providing secondary and advanced secondary treatment.

The system has the capacity to treat wastewater for around 54,000 people using a method known as Intermittent Extended Aeration/Activated Sludge and the more traditional Trickling Filter.

The system currently has:

  • 22 pumping stations capable of dealing with 70 megalitres per day of wastewater
  • 23km of rising mains, a sewerage system where a pump lifts and pushes the sewage along a system of sealed pipes
  • 457km of gravity trunk mains and reticulation, relying on gravity to carry the wastewater to the pumping station and then the treatment plant.

The Westdale Wastewater Treatment Plant and Effluent Reuse Farm treats and reuses virtually 100% of all wastewater in the Tamworth area, including both residential and industrial wastewater.

Onsite Sewage Management Systems

All owners of onsite sewage management systems must pay an annual approval to operate fee. This fee is levied annually in the rates notices.

For all details regarding the management and inspection of existing onsite sewage management systems, please download a copy of our Onsite Sewage Management Strategy (PDF 702.9KB).

For all details regarding the installation of new or altered of onsite sewage management systems, please download a copy of our Onsite Wastewater Management Plan (OWMP) (PDF 1.2MB) and associated Technical Manual  (PDF 2.6MB).

For more information regarding onsite sewerage systems, please refer to the following fact sheets:

If you have any questions, you can request to speak with one of our Environmental Health Officers by contacting council.

Liquid Trade Waste

Liquid trade waste is liquid waste that is produced by a business, commercial or industrial activity. It does not include domestic waste from sinks, showers, baths or toilets.

Council may accept liquid trade waste into its sewerage system as a service to businesses and industry. However, Council sewerage systems are designed to transport and treat domestic sewage, so it’s important that trade waste is managed properly. 

It’s important that Council ensure liquid trade waste is managed soundly to prevent damage to the environment, assets including sewage treatment facilities as well as public and worker health and safety. 

Both trade waste dischargers and Council have responsibilities when it comes to the management of liquid trade waste. For full details, please download a copy of Council’s Liquid Trade Waste Policy (PDF 734KB).

All businesses discharging liquid waste into Council’s sewerage system must apply for permission. Please refer to the following information and application forms:

Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 sets out three categories of liquid trade waste Concurrence A, B and C.

To apply for approval to discharge trade waste into a Council sewer, you need to complete the appropriate application form. The Liquid Trade Waste Category Determination Checklist (PDF 160KB) will help you identify which application form you need to complete:

Liquid Trade Waste Tracking

Council is committed to protecting community sewer assets, the health and safety of workers and the environment. The electronic liquid trade waste tracking system helps to monitor the scheduled maintenance and disposal of grease trap and oil separator waste in the region.

The Wastelink system ensures that all business remain compliant with the service schedule as outlined in their liquid trade waste approval. If you’re a business or property owner and are unsure of your required service schedule for pre-treatment devices, Council's Water & Waste Division are able to provide that information, please contact Council directly. Council does not provide schedule information directly to service contractors.

Pump out contractors currently using Councils Wastelink system in Tamworth are, in alphabetical order:

  • Cleanaway
  • JR Richards & Sons
  • Pump Um Out Paul's Liquid Waste
  • Tamworth Septic & Liquid Waste

Liquid trade waste approval holders are encouraged to use one of the above contractors to ensure that their liquid waste service is reported to Council. Service contractors not listed above are invited to contact Council for tracking requirements.

Please note that prosecution and penalties may apply
Section 68 of the Local Government Act 1993 requires that all trade waste dischargers to a council sewerage system must have an approval from Council. This applies to both new and existing trade waste dischargers. A discharger who fails to obtain Council’s approval or fails to obtain Council’s approval or fails to comply with the conditions of approval may be prosecuted under section 120 (1) of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997. In addition, Council may issue a penalty notice under section 222 of that Act.

Hills Plains Development low pressure sewer systems

Residential properties being built in the Forest Hills, Hills Plains East, Wentworth Ridge and Highlands Estate area of Tamworth’s Hills Plains development will be connected to Tamworth Regional Council’s sewer system via low pressure sewer, rather than conventional gravity sewer as outlined in the Hills Plain 2006 Development Control Plan (PDF 618.2KB).

To understand your responsibilities as a home owner and/or home builder in the Hills Plains Development area, low pressure sewer units, maintenance and costs, please refer to our Low Pressure Sewer System Hills Plains Resident Guide factsheet. (PDF 200.5KB)


RV Dump Points

Council provides purpose-built, environmentally sensitive dump points for mobile travellers to our region. These easy and safe to operate dump points make it simple for travellers to manage their wastewater while on the road.

Wastewater placed into dump points in the Tamworth region goes directly into the established sewer system, with 100% of wastewater placed into the Tamworth system being treated and recycled as irrigation for fodder farming.

The innovative plastic Dump-Ezy units that have been installed are manufactured to Australian Standards and are able to receive waste from both cartridge and flexible hose.

Please see maps below for the location of dump points in the Tamworth Region:


Locations of Dump Points

Barraba

  • Near 77 Cherry Street, Barraba NSW - behind the Council depot
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East Tamworth

  • Near 505 Armidale Road, East Tamworth NSW - Rotary Rest Area


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Manilla

  • Near 288 Charles Street, Manilla NSW - Coronation Park

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  • Near Manilla Freedom Camping, Dewhurst Street, Manilla NSW

 

Nundle

  • Chaffey Dam, Nundle Road, Bowling Alley Point NSW

 

South Tamworth

  • Near 477 Goonoo Goonoo Road, South Tamworth NSW - South Tamworth Lions Club Rest Area

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West Tamworth

  • Near Gunnedah Road, West Tamworth NSW - 350 meters west of Goddard Lane
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What the flush?!

We find all sorts of things clogging up our sewer system. It is very important that we keep unwanted items out of our sewer to avoid clogged pumps. Clogged pumps can be expensive to fix and can causes bigger issues for your community.

Here are some flush facts:

  • ANYTHING that leaves your home via the kitchen sink, shower, laundry or bath drain, and the toilet ends up in our sewer system
  • When incorrect items are flushed down the drain they block our pumps and pipes
  • Blocked pumps and pipes can be expensive to fix and can cause issues for your community
  • The best way to avoid a blocked pump and pipes is to not flush incorrected items down the drain

What you should flush:

  • Number 1s
  • Number 2s
  • Toilet paper

What you shouldn’t flush:

  • Food scraps
  • Cooking oils
  • Grease and fats
  • Chemicals or bleach
  • Paint
  • Wet wipes
  • Nappies

Wet wipes, nappies, food scraps, cooking oils, grease and fats should all go in your red lid bin.
Chemicals and bleach can be disposed of at the annual Household Chemical Collection.
Paint can be disposed of for free at your local Community Recycling Centre at the tip.

Help us conquer the clog and keep our system operating smoothly.