I've noticed a sewage spill / something smells of sewage / I've got a problem with a wastewater treatment plant near me. What should I do about it?
Contacting TasWater directly is the fastest way to get most incidents or complaints attended to.
Complaints about the sewerage network, septic tanks and public toilets can be directed to your local council.
You can also contact the EPA's Incident Response team to report a sewage-related incident, or to make any complaints about issues related to sewage or wastewater treatment plants.
I have a question about a septic system.
Questions about septic systems should be directed to your local council.
Can I tip this chemical down the sink?
Some liquids can damage the sewerage system and make wastewater difficult and expensive to treat if they are poured down the sink or flushed down the toilet. You can help keep water bills down by being careful about how you dispose of chemicals.
You can contact TasWater to ask whether a specific chemical can be disposed of down the sink.
In the Water and Sewerage Industry (General) Regulations 2019:
Regulation 15 allows for substances in concentrations above the limits in schedule 3 to be accepted to sewer as long as the sewerage can handle the waste;
Schedule 2 describes what is not permitted for disposal to sewer; and
Schedule 3 sets limits for a range of chemical properties and substances.
I have a question about discharging wastewater from my business premises to the sewer.
Businesses who discharge liquid wastes to the sewer network are trade waste producers. Trade waste means liquid waste generated by any trade, industrial, commercial, educational, medical, dental, veterinary, agricultural, horticultural, scientific research or experimental activities.
The Water and Sewerage Industry Act 2008 and supporting regulations set limits on trade waste disposal to sewer. In the Water and Sewerage Industry (General) Regulations 2019:
Regulation 15 allows for substances in concentrations above the limits in schedule 3 to be accepted to sewer as long as the sewerage can handle the waste;
Schedule 2 describes what is not permitted for disposal to sewer; and
Schedule 3 sets limits for a range of chemical properties and substances.
TasWater manages agreements between itself and businesses discharging to sewer. Contact TasWater.
What should I do with sewage and wastewater from my boat?
The EPA Director has made a Directive on The Discharge of Sewage from Certain Vessels into State Waters to help boat owners minimise their impact on inland waterways and the ocean.
The EPA has also put together the Environmental Guidelines for Boat Repair and Maintenance to help manage other boat maintenance activities in an environmentally responsible way.
What should I do with blackwater from my campervan or caravan?
Dump points for waste from campervans and self-contained RVs can be found at designated council-owned sites and privately-owned caravan parks around Tasmania. Search the web for dump points near your location. Do not dispose of blackwater or other sewage residues at any location other than a designated dump point.
What does my property connection include?
Your property connection to the sewerage network includes:
- the short sewer that connects the sewer main to your sanitary drain
- the junction on the sewer main; the property connection fitting
- the vertical riser and pipes.
Your property connects to the sewerage network, which consists of trunk, pressure and reticulation mains pipes. More information is available on the TasWater website.
I am a vendor of wastewater treatment technology.
The EPA does not promote wastewater treatment technology. Contact water utilities or Consumer, Building and Occupational Services (CBOS, Tasmanian Government) regarding on-site wastewater treatment systems.