Wastewater

The wastewater system

Wastewater (or sewage) includes waste from household domestic sinks, toilets, laundries, kitchens and bathrooms, and from commercial/industrial sources.

This waste flows through a network of underground pipes and pumping stations to a treatment plant (sewerage network). If you are in a rural area, it may go through a privately owned on-site wastewater treatment system.

Council manage the sewerage network and treatment plants which includes; operation, maintenance, upgrades and renewal projects. It also receives and treats trade waste from industry and sludge from septic tanks.

Wastewater pipes have a lifespan of about 80 years, and are designed to withstand normal tree root and traffic loadings. Age is often a factor when pipes become blocked or seep.

Council's Wastewater Bylaw governs the management of wastewater drainage from domestic premises.

Council's role

We are required to provide sewerage services in some areas under the Local Government Act 2002. We also have responsibility to make sure private systems, on-site sewage treatment systems and plumbing are designed and built in accordance with the Building Act 2004. 

Discharges to the environment from Council treatment plants or private on-site systems are managed by the Northland Regional Council under rules in the Resource Management Act.

Responsibilities and ownership of pipe work

Council owns and maintains all of the main sewer pipes, whether they are located within private or public land.

Where the main sewer pipe is on public land, Council owns and is responsible for the upkeep of the connection pipe, between the main sewer and the inspection point at the public/private property boundary. Property owners are responsible for repairs and maintenance of the wastewater pipes located on their land, between the building and the inspection point at the private/public property boundary.

Where Council's main sewer pipe runs through private land the property owner is responsible for, and owns the connection pipe from, the property up to the inspection point located prior to the connection into the main sewer. Council owns all the fittings and pipe work from the inspection point up to and including the main sewer pipe.

Building over wastewater or stormwater pipes

As a rule, building over or close to wastewater or stormwater drainage pipes isn't permitted.

However, in circumstances where it is inevitable and provided certain conditions are met, building may be allowed.

To read a summary and view the full version of the policy please follow the link below.

Building Over Public Sewers Policy

Connecting to the sewer network

For information on how to connect to Council's reticulated sewerage system please follow the link below

Connecting to the Sewer Network