Resources

We are here to help you look after and care for your wastewater system.

Your septic system requires ongoing maintenance and care to ensure its optimum performance and longevity.

Caring for your system

Your septic system requires ongoing maintenance and care to ensure its optimum performance and longevity. What you put down your drains and toilets will affect how well your septic system functions, and it is important to be mindful of how you can continue to look after and care for your wastewater system.

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Desludge your Septic Tank

Over the years, your septic tank will gradually build a layer of ‘sludge’ and ‘scum’. To prolong the life of your septic system and keep it operating efficiently, you need to get your septic tank (and pump chambers if applicable) desludged every 3 by a properly licensed or qualified company.

DESLUDGING →

Maintenance

Your septic system needs regular, ongoing maintenance to ensure you get the optimum results for your septic system. We are here to help and are happy to answer any questions you may have regarding the maintenance of your septic system.

MAINTENANCE →

Servicing

Regular servicing of your septic system will maintain and prolong the life of your system, identify issues critical to its performance, avoid mishaps and financial loss from a broken-down system. With every service, we examine your system in detail, identify any potential problems, provide solutions and keep you up to date with our findings.

SERVICING →

Planting Guide

Your septic system does not have to restrict you in landscaping your property. Plenty of plants can, and will, contribute to the look, feel and function of your garden without causing damage. Grass is always best surrounding your septic system and shallow root, non-water seeking and non-root invasive plants which are happy in dry conditions. You do have to be mindful that some vegetation can cause major problems to your septic system. Trees on top of any part of the septic system must be avoided.

CARING FOR YOUR SYSTEM
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Cleaning Products

Septic systems rely on bacteria to help reduce the solids within the system and treat the wastewater. What you put down your drains and toilets will affect how well your septic system functions. Maintaining a healthy level of bacteria is vital to keep the system operating. To get the most out of your septic system, you need to be aware of the cleaning products you are using and be conscious on what you are placing down the fixtures of your house.

CARING FOR YOUR SYSTEM
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DESLUDGING

Why is desludging so important?

Desludging is one of the most important things you can do to protect and prolong the life of all types of wastewater systems.
As you use your system, it will build sludge (a layer of solids that settle at the bottom of the system) and scum (the layer that floats on top of the primary septic tank which consists of fats, oils and grease).

Without regular desludging, the quality of the final effluent is significantly reduced and your system may also build high levels of suspended solids which can block filters, damage pumps, block effluent fields and clog passive treatment systems.

How often do I need to desludge my septic system?

Your septic tank should be desludged every 3 years or as required upon assessment by a suitable contractor. If you have a passive treatment system (sand filter) you should also get your pump chamber desludged at the same time to remove any sludge which may have built up at the bottom of your pump chambers.

It should be performed by an accredited liquid waste removal contractor and a record of the pump out should be kept as it may be required for some local councils.

How do I know if my tank needs to be desludged?

The best way to determine if your septic tank requires desludging is to measure the ‘sludge’ and ‘scum’ layer with a measuring tube. Many septic tanks are buried, which can make it difficult to inspect the sludge levels. We can help by taking the sludge level for you to determine if it is required for your system.

What happens if I don’t desludge my septic tank?

Failure to do so could cause the build-up of solids within the tank which can then overflow into the treatment system. Over a period of time the treatment system could then become clogged and no longer function correctly.

What can I do to reduce the sludge build up in my septic tank?

By putting into practice the below you can reduce the build up of sludge in your septic tank:

Avoid disinfectant products to improve the bacterial treatment in the septic tank;
Scrape all dishes to remove fats, grease etc before washing the dishes;
Keep all possible kitchen solids out of the septic system;
Don’t use a garbage grinder unless the system has been specifically designed to carry the extra load;
Don’t put sanitary napkins and other hygiene products into the system.

What should I get delsudged?

When you desludge your septic tank, you should also desludge any dosing/dispersal chambers to help maintain your septic system’s optimum performance. This will ensure sludge is removed from all components and prolong the life of your septic system.

CARING FOR YOUR SYSTEM

How can I care for my system?

To enhance the performance of your system and to maximise its service life, you can take care of your system by:

Ensure your system is properly maintained with regular servicing and the desludging of your septic tank is undertaken every 3 years.
Make sure you are using cleaning products labelled as ‘biodegradable’ or ‘septic-safe’ suitable for septic systems and in moderation.
Use low-phosphorus or phosphorus-free detergents, and natural or alternative cleaners where possible
Ensure toilet paper is used at a minimum, especially in households with children.
Avoid large loads of wastewater entering your system (e.g. several loads of washing in quick succession or a large number of people at a party).

What cleaning products can I use in my septic system?

Septic systems rely on bacteria to help reduce the solids within the system and treat the wastewater. What you put down your drains and toilets will affect how well your septic system functions. Maintaining a healthy level of bacteria is vital to keep the system operating.

Disinfectants are harmful and have serious implications on the processes of a healthy septic system. You need to restrict the use of harsh chemicals or bleaches and avoid all caustic products, as these can kill the micro-organisms and reduce the effectiveness of the system.

Are there products which I should not use in my system?

Septic systems rely on bacteria to help reduce the solids within the system and treat the wastewater. What you put down your drains and toilets will affect how well your septic system functions. Maintaining a healthy level of bacteria is vital to keep the system operating.

Disinfectants are be harmful and have serious implications on the processes of a healthy septic system. You need to restrict the use of harsh chemicals or bleaches and avoid all caustic products, as these can kill the micro-organisms and reduce the effectiveness of the system.

Bleaches, whiteners, nappy soakers, spot removers, disinfectants, chlorinated products, sterilisation agents
Antibacterial products and unused medicines
Paint, petroleum products or other solvents, chemicals, acid cleaners
Solid materials such as paper, plastic, sanitary napkins, tampons, condoms, nappies or baby wipes
Food scraps, fats and oils
Insecticides, herbicides, pesticides
Trade waste from commercial or industrial premises, stormwater from downpipes or rainwater tank overflows and backwash water from pools, spa pools or water softeners

Please be aware, some strong medications such as blood pressure tablets, chemotherapy and antibiotics can destroy the natural processes of a wastewater treatment system. These systems may require more regular desludging of the septic tank and/or maintenance. If you have placed any of the materials listed into your system, please contact us for advice and what action may be required.

Can I use any toilet paper in my septic system?

Toilet paper can be tricky, especially if you are using lots of it as this can cause blockages in your septic system. We encourage you to check on the packaging that the particular type of toilet paper you use is recommended for septic tank use. It is very important to use minimal toilet paper to prevent blockages at the beginning/opening of the septic tank and to reduce the frequency of desludging your septic tank. Particular attention should be paid to the amount of toilet paper placed in the system by children within the dwelling.

What floor cleaner is suitable for my septic system?

We highly recommend you use hot water and natural bacterial cleaners such as Vinegar, Bicarbonate of Soda, or Tee-Tree Oil. When finished it is recommended to dispose of the water on the lawn or garden rather than flushing it down the sink.

What plants can I plant near my wastewater system?

You have to be mindful that some vegetation can cause major problems to your septic system. Trees on top of any part of the septic system must be avoided. Roots can infiltrate the system, effluent field, and associated pipes, causing blockages or breakages, preventing the septic system from functioning as it should. These situations can be minimised by the careful planning and appropriate placement of plants, shrubs, and trees.

What types of plants and trees should I plant near my system?

It’s important to consider the right types of plants around your wastewater treatment system. Large trees and shrubs with water-seeking roots may cause damage to your septic system if planted too close.

Smaller shrubs and ground cover are most suitable for the area around your wastewater treatment system with a setback of at least two metres. Grass is the most suitable type of vegetation for subsurface irrigation. If in doubt, please consult with your local nursery for the best option for your property.

What does it mean when the Council asks for water testing of my septic system?

Your local authority may require water quality tests to be conducted on your septic system once it has been installed. This is a requirement of your permit to use your septic system. The frequency of these tests is determined by your local authority. If you are contacted by your local authority, please contact us and we can organise an inspection, complete a septic service and commission the water sample on your behalf. All records are kept, and reports are sent to yourself and the local authority.

Can I turn the system off when I go on holiday?

It is best to leave the power at your septic system on while you go on holidays or if the property is a holiday home. Whilst some septic systems can manage with the power turned off (those with submersible pumps which only operate when water is used), some treatment systems require power to run all the time (aerated treatment systems). It is best to keep the power on, just to be sure.

SERVICING

Do systems need to be serviced?

Yes! All septic systems need to be serviced. The type of treatment system you purchase will determine how much and how often the system will be required to be serviced. Your permit to use will identify the frequency of servicing is required for your septic system.

Aerated treatment systems need to be serviced quarterly as per their conditions of use by a qualified servicing agent or qualified plumber, passive treatment systems are to be serviced annually and those with a pumped standard system are required to undertake some yearly maintenance. Please see our Services page for more information on servicing.

How often does my system need to be serviced?

Primary septic systems required the least amount of maintenance whereby only the septic tank is to be desludged on average every 3 years. The VS 1200 Passive Treatment system requires yearly servicing as a recommendation to all owners. In comparison, all aerated treatment systems require quarterly servicing by a service agent or from those qualified to complete the servicing.

Why do they need to be serviced?

Your septic system is an expensive asset that requires servicing to ensure it continues to work correctly. Regular servicing of your septic system will maintain and prolong the life of your system, identify issues critical to its performance, and avoid mishaps and financial loss from a broken-down system.

Regular servicing helps to protect your health, your family’s health, and the local environment and it is also a requirement of state and local government authorities that wastewater treatment systems are serviced by an accredited service technician.

How much does it cost to service a system?

Servicing costs can vary depending on the type of system and the area where you are situated. If you are in a remote area from our base, I am sure you can appreciate the cost for a service technician to travel to your home will be slightly higher than those close to our base.

Where possible, we try to consolidate several properties our technicians can attend to save costs to owners. Owners can expect to pay anywhere from $200 – $400 for a service of their septic system, any additional works that need to be completed whilst onsite will be an additional cost.

Who can service my septic system?

We can! All septic systems are to be serviced by registered, licensed wastewater service personnel or licensed plumbers as in most cases a report will need to be sent to your local Council to advise a service has been undertaken on your septic system.

Unlicensed personnel are not allowed to service any treatment system but you also want to make sure the person completing a service on your septic system knows what they are doing and looking for to ensure it is working at its optimum performance.