Business activity guide
This guide provides information about the types of pre-treatment equipment required for a business activity, and what you will need to apply for approval to discharge into Council's sewerage system.
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Food preparation
Before you submit an application for approval, make sure you understand the pre-treatment requirements relevant to your business activity.
As a guide, retail food preparation activities that generate liquid trade waste require the following pre-treatment equipment:
- Screens must be provided in all food preparation and wash-up sinks
- Dry basket arrestors must be installed in all floor waste outlets
- Premises that generate oily greasy wastewater require an appropriately sized grease arrestor (minimum 1000L)
Depending on the activity, additional equipment may be required.
Have your documentation ready
To complete your application, you will need:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Mechanical workshop
Before you make an application for approval, make sure you understand the pre-treatment requirements relevant to your business activity.
As a guide, vehicle, machinery and mechanical workshop related activities that generate liquid trade waste require the following pre-treatment equipment:
- Screens fitted to all floor drains
- Dry basket arrestor
- Collection well
- Coalescing plate interceptor/separator, hydrocyclone separation system, or a vertical gravity separator
- Non-emulsifying pump
Depending on the activity, additional equipment may be required.
Have your documentation ready
To complete your application, you will need:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Accommodation provider
Before you make an application for approval, make sure you understand the pre-treatment requirements relevant to your business activity.
As a guide, accommodation providers that generate liquid trade waste require the following pre-treatment equipment:
- Screens must be provided in all food preparation and wash-up sinks
- Dry basket arrestors must be installed in all floor waste outlets in food preparation areas
- Premises that generate oily greasy wastewater require an appropriately sized grease arrestor (minimum 1000L)
- Onsite laundry activities may require lint screens/cooling pits
Depending on the activity, additional equipment may be required.
Have your documentation ready
To complete your application, you will need:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Laboratory
Before you make an application for approval, make sure you understand the pre-treatment requirements relevant to your business activity.
As a guide, laboratories that generate liquid trade waste require the following pre-treatment equipment:
Depending on the laboratory activity, additional equipment may be required.
Have your documentation ready
To complete your application, you will need:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Laundry facility
Before you make application for approval, make sure you understand the pre-treatment requirements relevant to your business activity.
As a guide, laundry facilities that generate liquid trade waste require the following pre-treatment equipment:
- Lint screens
- Cooling pit
- Larger facilities may require pH correction
Depending on the activity, additional equipment may be required.
Have your documentation ready
To complete your application, you will need:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Hospital or aged care provider
Before you make an application for approval, make sure you understand the pre-treatment requirements relevant to the onsite activities.
As a guide, hospitals and aged care providers that generate liquid trade waste may require pre-treatment equipment in the following areas:
- Food preparation equipment (screens, dry basket arrestors, grease arrestor)
- Dental clinic (plaster arrestor)
- Plaster cast preparation (plaster arrestor)
- Pathology laboratory (balancing pit)
- Mortuary (dry basket arrestors)
- Hydrotherapy pool
- Laundry (lint screens, cooling pit)
- Boiler room (cooling pit)
- Cooling tower
Depending on the individual activities, additional equipment may be required.
Have your documentation ready
To complete your application, you will need:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Educational facility
Before you make an application for approval, make sure you understand the requirements relevant to your business activity.
As a guide, educational facilities that generate liquid trade waste require the following pre-treatment equipment:
- Screens must be provided in all food preparation and wash-up sinks
- Dry basket arrestors must be installed in all floor waste outlets located in food preparation areas
- Premises that generate oily greasy wastewater from a food preparation area require an appropriately sized grease arrestor (minimum 1000L)
- Laboratory balancing/neutralisation pit
- Mechanical workshop oily water separator and collection pit
- Plaster arrestor in pottery/craft areas
Depending on the activity, additional equipment may be required.
Have your documentation ready
The complete your application, you will need:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Chemical toilet waste dump point
Before you make an application for approval, make sure you understand the pre-treatment requirements relevant to your business activity.
As a guide, chemical toilet waste dump points discharged to the sewerage system require:
- To be installed to exclude rainwater (e.g. bunding)
- Provision of freshwater for rinsing and cleanup
Depending on the activity, additional equipment may be required such as a backflow prevention device.
Have your documentation ready
To complete your application, you will need the following documentation:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Multiple occupancy
Before you make an application for approval, make sure you understand the pre-treatment requirements relevant to the business activities onsite. In most situations, waste streams generated by different activities must not be combined prior to pre-treatment.
As a guide, multiple occupancy developments such as shopping centres require individual pre-treatment equipment. Businesses could include, but not limited to:
- Food providers (e.g. grease arrestors, can be shared between food businesses)
- Laundromats (e.g. lint screens, cooling pits)
- Mechanical workshops (e.g. oily water separators)
- Supermarkets (e.g. grease arrestors, extractors)
Depending on the individual activities, a variety of equipment may be required.
Have your documentation ready
To complete this application you will need to attach:
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Industrial facility
As a guide, industrial activities generally involve large volumes and high level of contaminated liquid trade waste. This needs to be appropriately pre-treated before being discharged into the sewerage system.
Industrial activities require individual assessment, and a consultant may be required.
Have your supporting documentation ready
To complete your application, you will need:
- Consultant's report (if available)
- Relevant hydraulic plans and pre-treatment equipment specifications (as appropriate)
- If the property is leased, the land owner must provide consent in the section provided in the application.
More information
Discharging liquid trade waste into Council's sewerage system without Council approval is an offence and penalties may apply.
Business activities exempt from obtaining Council's written approval but must still meet standard requirements include:
- Hairdresser/beautician
- Dental technician/doctor surgery (no x-ray)
- Jeweller/optometrist
- Florist
- Bed and breakfast
If your proposed business activity is not on our list, contact us to find out more. Alternatively, you can view our Liquid Trade Waste Policy and our Liquid Trade Waste Policy Supplement.