NCC 2022 Volume Three - Plumbing Code of Australia
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C3

Part C3 On-site wastewater management

Part C3 On-site wastewater management

Introduction to this Part

This Part sets out the requirements for any part of an on-site wastewater management system from the point of connection of a sanitary drainage system up to and including the appropriate means of waste disposal.

Objectives

The Objective of this Part is to—

  1. safeguard people from illness, injury or loss (including loss of amenity) due to the failure of an on-site wastewater management system installation; and
  2. ensure that an on-site wastewater management system installation is suitable; and
  3. conserve water and energy; and
  4. safeguard the environment; and
  5. safeguard public and private infrastructure; and
  6. ensure that an on-site wastewater management system installation is designed and is capable of being maintained so that throughout its serviceable life it will continue to satisfy Objectives (a) to (e).

Functional Statements

On-site wastewater management systems must collect, contain, treat, assimilate and process wastewater, human excreta, or both so that public health and environmental standards required by the authority having jurisdiction are achieved.

Performance Requirements

On-site wastewater management systems must protect public health by ensuring that—

  1. risks associated with the discharge of treated wastewater and/or the end product from a composting toilet to the environment are minimised; and
  2. foul air and gasses are prevented from accumulating within or entering into buildings; and
  3. the likelihood of contamination of the drinking water supply is avoided.

VIC C3P1 Health impactsNew for 2022

Delete subclause C3P1(1) and insert C3P1(1) as follows:

On-site wastewater management systems must protect public health by ensuring that—

  1. risks associated with the discharge of treated wastewater and/or the end product from a composting toilet to the environment are minimised; and
  2. foul air and gasses are prevented from accumulating within or entering into buildings; and
  3. the likelihood of contamination of the drinking water supply is avoided, and
  4. it complies with the requirements of the authority having jurisdiction.

Explanatory information

Wastewater contains a range of pathogens that can cause illness in humans. A well designed, maintained, and operated wastewater system improves sanitation and reduces the risk to public and environmental health. Poorly designed and maintained wastewater systems can result in, contamination of drinking water and recreational water sources, including those used for food production, as well as increased risks of direct wastewater contact by the public.

On-site wastewater management systems must protect the environment by ensuring that—

  1. surface water and ground water are not polluted: and
  2. soil productivity is maintained or enhanced; and
  3. the likelihood of contamination of soils, ground water and waterways is avoided.

On-site wastewater management systems must minimise the impacts on and maintain and enhance community amenity. They must ensure that the on-site wastewater management system design and its implementation contribute to improving and sustaining aesthetic values within individual properties and groups of properties.

Where an on-site wastewater management system discharges to the point of connection of a Network Utility Operator's sewer system, the connection must comply with the Network Utility Operator requirements.

NCC Blurbs

On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must be designed, constructed, installed, replaced, repaired, altered and maintained—

  1. with required treatment and storage capacity for the volume and make up of waste and frequency of discharge for disposal; and
  2. with required size, strength and rigidity for the nature, flow rates, volume of wastes and/or waste products which must be processed; and
  3. using materials which are impervious both to the waste for which disposal is required and to water; and
  4. to avoid the likelihood of surface water and stormwater entering the system; and
  5. in accordance with the requirements and agreement of the relevant authority having jurisdiction.
NCC Title

General requirements

NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
General requirements
NCC Blurbs

On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must be designed and constructed—

  1. with required treatment and storage capacity for the volume and make up of waste and frequency of discharge for disposal; and
  2. with required size, strength and rigidity for the nature, flow rates, volume of wastes and/or waste products which must be processed; and
  3. using materials which are impervious both to the waste for which disposal is required and to water; and
  4. to avoid the likelihood of surface water and stormwater entering the system; and
  5. so that access or inspection openings provided for desludging and maintenance terminate at or above finished surface level.
  6. so that the installation throughout its serviceable life will continue to satisfy the requirements of C3P1 to C3P9.

Explanatory information

For alternative venting arrangements, see clause C2D6 in sanitary drainage.

NCC Title

General requirements

NCC State
TAS
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
General requirements

On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must be designed and constructed—

  1. with required treatment and storage capacity for the volume and make up of waste and frequency of discharge for disposal; and
  2. with required size, strength and rigidity for the nature, flow rates, volume of wastes and/or waste products which must be processed; and
  3. using materials which are impervious both to the waste for which disposal is required and to water; and
  4. to avoid the likelihood of surface water and stormwater entering the system.
NCC Blurbs

(1) On-site wastewater management systems and associated land application systems must—

  1. complete the treatment, uptake and absorption of the final effluent within the boundaries of the approved area; and
  2. protect against internal contamination; and
  3. provide ventilation to avoid the likelihood of foul air and gases from accumulating in the system; and
  4. transfers wastes safely and hygienically.

(2) On-site wastewater management systems and associated land application systems must—

  1. avoid the likelihood of the creation of unpleasant odours or the accumulation of offensive matter; and
  2. avoid the likelihood of stormwater run-off entering the system; and
  3. avoid the likelihood of root penetration or ingress of ground water entering the system; and
  4. avoid the likelihood of unintended or uncontrolled discharge; and
  5. avoid the likelihood of blockage and leakage; and
  6. avoid the likelihood of damage from superimposed loads or ground movement; and
  7. avoid the likelihood off effluent and foul air and gasses entering the building.

(3) The on-site wastewater management system and associated land application system continue to meet the above requirements throughout its serviceable life.

NCC Title

Land application systems

NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Land application systems

(1) On-site wastewater management systems and associated land application systems must—

  1. complete the treatment, uptake and absorption of the final effluent within the boundaries of the approved area; and
  2. protect against internal contamination; and
  3. provide ventilation to avoid the likelihood of foul air and gases from accumulating in the system.

(2) On-site wastewater management systems and associated land application systems must—

  1. avoid the likelihood of the creation of unpleasant odours or the accumulation of offensive matter; and
  2. avoid the likelihood of stormwater run-off entering the system; and
  3. avoid the likelihood of root penetration or ingress of ground water entering the system; and
  4. avoid the likelihood of unintended or uncontrolled discharge; and
  5. avoid the likelihood of blockage and leakage; and
  6. avoid the likelihood of damage from superimposed loads or ground movement.
NCC Blurbs

(1) On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must—

  1. provide vehicle access for collection, if necessary; and
  2. avoid the likelihood of unauthorised access by people; and
  3. provide safe access for cleaning, clearing blockages, maintenance, measurement and performance sampling.

(2) Land application systems must—

  1. provide safe access, as required, for clearing blockages and maintenance; and
  2. incorporate provisions, as required, for effective cleaning.
NCC Title

Access for maintenance

NCC State
VIC
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Access for maintenance

(1) On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must—

  1. provide vehicle access for collection, if necessary; and
  2. avoid the likelihood of unauthorised access by people; and
  3. permit cleaning, maintenance, measurement and performance sampling.

(2) Land application systems must—

  1. provide access, as required, for maintenance; and
  2. incorporate provisions, as required, for effective cleaning.

On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must avoid blockage or uncontrolled discharge.

On-site wastewater management systems that facilitate on-site storage, treatment, disposal or re-use of wastewater must permit the manufacturer model, serial number and designed capacity to be easily accessed and identifiable after installation.

Deemed-to-Satisfy Provisions

(1) Performance RequirementsC3P1 to C3P9 are satisfied by complying with C3D2 to C3D7.

(2) Where a Performance Solution is proposed, the relevant Performance Requirements must be determined in accordance with A2G2(3) and A2G4(3) as applicable.

NCC Blurbs

A septic tank must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.

NCC Title

Septic tanks

NCC State
SA
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Septic tanks

A septic tank must be in accordance with AS/NZS 1546.1.

NCC Blurbs

A waterless composting toilet must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.

NCC Title

Composting toilets

NCC State
SA
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Composting toilets

A waterless composting toilet must be in accordance with AS/NZS 1546.2.

NCC Blurbs

A secondary treatment system must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.

NCC Title

Secondary treatment systems

NCC State
SA
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Secondary treatment systems

A secondary treatment system must be in accordance with AS 1546.3.

NCC Blurbs

A domestic greywater treatment system must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.

NCC Title

Domestic grey water treatment systems

NCC State
SA
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Domestic grey water treatment systems

A domestic grey water treatment system must be in accordance with AS/NZS 1546.4.

NCC Blurbs

(1) An On-site wastewater management system and associated land application system must avoid the following:

  1. Damage from root penetration, superimposed loads or ground movement.
  2. Entry of water, foul air or gasses from the system into buildings.
  3. Entry of stormwater into the system.
  4. Blockage and unintended or uncontrolled discharge.

(2) An On-site wastewater management system and associated land application system must provide the following:

  1. Protection against internal contamination.
  2. Access for maintenance and cleaning.
  3. Ventilation to avoid foul air and gasses accumulation in the system.

(3) A facility must continue to satisfy the requirements of C3D6(1) and C3D6(2).

NCC Title

Land application systems

NCC State
TAS
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Land application systems
NCC Blurbs

A land application system must be in accordance with the South Australia On-Site Wastewater Systems Code.

NCC Title

Land application systems

NCC State
SA
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Land application systems

A domestic land application system must be in accordance with AS/NZS 1547.

NCC Blurbs

A common effluent drainage system must be in accordance the South Australia Community Wastewater Management Systems Code.

NCC Title

Common effluent drainage systems

NCC State
SA
NCC Variation Type
Replacement
NCC SPTC Current
Common effluent drainage systems

A common effluent drainage system must be in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.2.