Septic Tank Seepage Into The Yarra
It is often said the Yarra in Warrandyte is a risky place to swim because of periodic high counts of .e coli in various stretches of the river. This organism, while not normally dangerous to human health, is an indicator of faecal contamination.
Faulty septic tanks have long been recognised as a large contributor to this problem and it was announced in January 2006 that the state government would spend $250 million over the next 20 years to accelerate the replacement of septic tanks in the Yarra catchment.
A reticulated sewer system was made available to Warrandyte village around 1986, but outlying and large properties were not included in the scheme. North Warrandyte remains unsewered.
Two years on from the government announcement little activity is apparent, but Manningham and Nillumbik Councils have completed the first step which is to develop a domestic waste water management plan that identifies all the properties that require reticulated sewerage.
With that information Yarra Valley Water (YVW) has taken that information and developed a plan that they have referred to the Essential Services Commission and that’s where it’s up to now, in April 2008. Yarra Valley Water (YVW) is working closely with both local councils.
Manningham has had a number of priority areas identified that will be sewered over the next five years Priority areas have also been identified in North Warrandyte and sewering is currently planned to take place within five years says the YVW general manager sustainable development.
North Warrandyte has around 1000 septic tank systems in use and those on small blocks will need to be replaced with a system that doesn’t pollute waterways. The north side of the Yarra, with its steep and rocky terrain, has long been recognised as a difficult (and probably expensive) place to install a conventional reticulated sewer system. In 1977 North Riding councillor Frank Maas told the Diary, “council believes that package plants are the only solution to the sewage and sullage problem -at least in the short term. Certainly they would do a lot towards reducing pollution of the Yarra.”
This type of plant has several houses connected to it, the number is dependent on the terrain, and processes waste to a standard suitable for release. This obviates the need to bring a sewer truck pipe to individual properties.
YVW is investigating a number of traditional and alternative sewerage options for these communities. The least cost and most sustainable solution will be selected based on the unique site specific conditions and constraints. Large properties which can contain their septic tank effluent on their own site will not be connected to the reticulated sewerage system.
It appears householders will need to employ a plumber to disconnect and decommission their septic tank and connect to the sewerage system that YVW makes available under this replacement scheme. This is expected to be the only cost to property owners. Warrandyte Diary April 2008
Contact details
- Phone: 13 1721
- Email: enquiry@yvw.com.au
- Website: Yarra Valley Water
- Address: Yarra Valley Water, Private Bag 1, Mitcham, 3132
