Galston and Glenorie Wastewater SchemeConnection guide for residential properties

The Galston and Glenorie Wastewater Scheme will provide improved wastewater services to the residents of Galston and Glenorie and will help protect local waterways.

Sydney Water, Hornsby Shire Council and The Hills Shire Council will encourage all residents to connect to the new wastewater system as soon as it is ready. By connecting to the new system you will help reduce risks to public health and the environment from existing wastewater systems in your area.

Connecting will offer important benefits to you and the community including:

• the opportunity to remove existing on-sitewastewater systems and use a more reliableand efficient system that Sydney Water ownsand maintains

• potential savings for properties with regularpump-out and maintenance costs

• fewer odours from on-site systems andpump-out trucks

• reduced risks to waterways and local environment• reduced public health risks from leaking

on-site systems• removing dampness and seepage• the opportunity to remove existing on-site

systems or reuse them to collect stormwater,subject to Council approval

• a potential increase in property values.

Step 1 Customer home plan meetingSydney Water will arrange a meeting with the owner of each eligible property to discuss construction and connection. We will need to hold this meeting at your property so we can discuss the location of the connection point and the wastewater equipment that will be installed on your property.

After the meeting we will send you a copy of the meeting notes with a plan showing your connection point and the approximate location of the equipment.

Step 2 Electrical health checksYour household electrical system must meet relevant standards before we can install any equipment on your property.

As part of the customer home plan meeting, a licensed electrician will check your electric switchboard and advise you whether it needs to be upgraded to meet Australian standards.

You are responsible for upgrading your electrical system, if required, before we install any equipment on your property.

Step 3 Connection preparationYou will need to sign and return the Consent to Enter form and Pressure Sewerage System Agreement to connect to Sydney Water’s new wastewater system. These documents are given to you at the customer home plan.

Once we receive your signed form and agreement, we tell you when we will install the three pieces of equipment on your property – the collection tank with grinder pump, discharge pipe and alarm / control panel.

We will install the boundary kit (also known as the property connection point) on all properties in the serviced area. This will occur as the wastewater pipe is being installed in your street.

Step 4 Connection quotesYou are responsible for choosing a suitable plumber to connect your household plumbing and drainage to the new wastewater system. Your choice depends on who you believe will do the job professionally, on time and for a reasonable price. Sydney Water recommends you get at least three quotes (see the section titled ‘Selecting a licensed plumber’). Now is the time to get your quotes. This gives you the opportunity to understand your costs before connecting to the new system.

When getting quotes, ask the licensed plumber to also check your existing household plumbing and drainage and advise you whether it needs to be upgraded to meet Australian standards. Any costs associated with upgrading your existing plumbing must be factored into your connection costs. And don’t forget to ask the plumber how long the quote is valid for.

Sydney Water will advise you when the new system is ready for connections. You must not connect before this. If you have any questions about your connection please call the community information line on 1800 626 072.

Seven steps to connectingSydney Water will install the street wastewater network and provide a connection point for each eligible property in the serviced area.

Step 5 Arrange final pump-outSydney Water will advise you when you can connect to the new wastewater system. You are then required to book a licensed contractor to pump-out and de-sludge your existing tank/s. This should happen within five days of your connection to the new system. The de-sludging of your tank/s must be done by a NSW licensed pump-out provider and the waste taken to a licensed disposal facility (see the section titled ‘What to do with your existing tank/s’).

Please keep a record of your booking as you may be asked for confirmation of the booking by a NSW Fair Trading plumbing inspector at the final inspection.

Step 6 ConnectionYour licensed plumber can connect your house to the  new wastewater system once all required electrical or plumbing upgrades are complete.

Once your property is connected, your plumber will make an appointment with a NSW Fair Trading plumbing inspector to inspect the completed work. Your plumber will pay a Plumbing and Drainage Audit Inspection fee of $1981 and bill you for this.

Step 7 Decommissioning your existing tank/s

The final step in the process is to decommission your existing septic tank/s. You can demolish, remove or even reuse your tank/s (see the section titled ‘What to do with your existing tank/s’). Your local Council may request a copy of your de-sludge receipt once the decommissioning process has been completed.

Construction of the new pressure sewerage system in Galston and Glenorie will begin in mid 2014.

Your plumber must call the free community information line on 1800 626 072 to arrange to have the grinder pump in your collection tank switched on and tested at least two weeks before connecting your property. Connecting to the new wastewater system without the power switched on will result in wastewater overflows on your property.

1 The fees and charges quoted are current as of 1 July 2015 and are subject to change.

Selecting a licensed plumberWe will give you a list of licensed plumbers who have attended a Sydney Water information session or have received information about the scheme. You can also visit the Master Plumbers Association of NSW website at www.masterplumbers.com.au or look in your local paper or Yellow Pages for more options.

We suggest you get at least three quotes for any upgrade work required on your existing plumbing or for the final connection. Ask each plumber to provide a written breakdown of each quote to allow you to compare costs easier.

Choose a plumber who you believe will do the job professionally, on time and for a reasonable price.

Consider grouping together with your neighbours to have the work on several properties completed by one licensed plumber. The plumber may pass on time and cost savings to you and your neighbours.

Check that the plumber you use has a current licence issued by NSW Fair Trading by visiting www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au

What to do with your existing tank/sOnce your property is connected to the system you will need to have your existing tank/s pumped out and/or de-sludged. Your tank/s can then be demolished, removed or reused for collecting stormwater (subject to Council regulations).

Your local Council is the regulatory authority for on-site septic systems in Galston and Glenorie and can issue orders requiring the connection of properties to Sydney Water’s new wastewater system. To know more about your options, please call Hornsby Shire Council on 9847 6666 or visit www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au. For The Hills Shire Council please call 9843 0555 or visit www.thehills.nsw.gov.au

Your local Council can give you more information on demolishing, removing or reusing your tank/s.

De-sludging your tank/sA NSW licensed pump-out provider must de-sludge your tank and take the waste to a licensed disposal facility.

Below is a list of licensed pump-out operators that service the Galston and Glenorie area. Your choice of pump-out operator depends on who you believe will do the job professionally, on time and for a reasonable price.

You must keep a copy of your de-sludge receipt. Your local Council may request to see it once you have decommissioned your existing tank/s.

Licensed pump-out operator Phone number

No Fuss Liquid Waste 4735 8966

Premier PumpOuts / Staples 9457 8777

Sydney Wide Pipe Cleaning 9627 7133

1 Fees paid by your plumber will appear on your plumber’s invoice. 2 Fees are current as of 1 July 2015 and are subject to change.

3 Each time your plumber arranges for your property to be inspected by a NSW Fair Trading plumbing inspector you will pay an inspection fee. Each inspection fee covers two visits by a plumbing inspector.

4 Concessions may apply to the wastewater service charge for eligible property owners. 5 Fees are current as of 1 July 2015 and are subject to change. This fee will be included in your Sydney Water bill after your property is connected

to the new wastewater system.

Know your costs The following table outlines the costs of connecting to the new wastewater system.

Item Amount Payable by Payable to

Initi

al co

sts

Plumbing and Drainage Audit Inspection fee1

$1982 Property owner Licensed plumber/drainer

Upgrades to existing household sanitary drainage (if required)3

Costs will vary depending on the work required

Property owner Licensed plumber/drainer

Connection to the new wastewater system

Costs will vary depending on the amount of work required, such as the length of pipe to be installed and soil conditions

Property owner Licensed plumber/drainer

Final pump-out and de-sludge

Contact a pump-out contractor Property owner Pump-out contractor

Decommissioning existing tank/s

Costs will vary depending on whether you do this work yourself

Property owner DIY or contractor of your choice

Ong

oing

cost

s Wastewater service charge4

$152.29 a quarter5 Property owner Sydney Water

Electricity used for pump

Costs will vary depending on the volume pumped from the property to the wastewater system.

Property owner Current electricity supplier

To know moreCall a member of our community relations team on 1800 626 072

Email galstonglenorie@sydneywater.com.au

Visit the Sydney Water website atsydneywater.com.au

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