What is an effluent tank?

Here is a simple guide for what to expect at a service.

On the day

The contractor's wastewater removal truck will arrive on the pre-determined scheduled service date. Make sure there is plenty of room for the truck to maneuver.  

Effluent removal

On arrival, the truck will connect a hose to the standpipe located at the front of your property. This connection point must be clear to allow for the extraction of the wastewater. Please note that to prevent the tank from "popping" the tank will not be completely emptied.

On completion of service

When the contractor has finished the service, they will leave a service docket detailing the specifics of the service undertaken. This is your official receipt so please make sure there is somewhere safe and weatherproof for the docket to be left.  

Apart from the collection wells, an onsite effluent the tank consists of the following components:

Standpipe - a vertical, open-ended pipe used to facilitate wastewater collection. To enable collection from a wastewater contractor your standpipe is located at the front of your property and for easy identification, it should have an orange cap on it.

Pusher pump – Some tanks may have a pump installed to push wastewater from the premises collection tank to the property boundary standpipe for collection.

Inspection points/dipstick - A inspection point such as a lid or a tank dipstick is a visual level indicator allowing easy assessment of the wastewater level within the tank. This is useful to help track tank usage, tank capacity, and to prevent overflow.

Pumpout services are conducted within three (3) full working days of your scheduled service date (excluding weekends and public holidays). Scheduled services are performed on predetermined dates with fees levied to your rates notice. 

The following services are conducted on notification for an additional fee:

• Extra services are performed within three (3) full working days. Note: An extra service request does not replace a scheduled service.
• Emergency services are conducted within twenty-four (24) hours.

Reattend service on customer failure (5 working days)

Reattend on Contractor issue (part pumpout 1 working day)

To avoid delays we suggest you maintain the components of the system including:

Standpipe access - To allow the road tanker to pump out the system, a standpipe is located at the boundary of the property; this is where the tanker connects to your system. Remove any obstacles or obstructions to the standpipe for easy access. Not providing clear access to the standpipe can prevent the pumpout service from being completed.

Standpipe cap - The orange cap helps to easily identify the location of the standpipe. If it starts to fade, falls off and gets lost, or if it breaks, it can easily be replaced from an electrical wholesaler who refer to them as a conduit cap or plug.

Standpipe and pusher pumps should be inspected by the owner before the service to ensure that the standpipe does not suck air or to ensure the pusher pump is not faulty. If your standpipe sucks air or your pusher pump is faulty the contractor will advise you via the docket left at your property and Shoalhaven Water will notify you via a letter or email to have the problem rectified within twenty-eight (28) days. Note: If no action is taken, Council cannot accept responsibility for effective effluent removal services at your premises.

To efficiently extract wastewater from the effluent tank, Shoalhaven Water recommend having 900L/minute. Services less than 250L/minute will be unable to be serviced due to potential damage to the vehicles. This will be classed as a customer failure.

Service dockets - At the completion of a pumpout, our contractor will leave a service docket in the letter box showing the total amount of effluent removed (in litres), and the readings on the gauges before and after the pump out (to the nearest 100 litres). If a letter box is not available, it is a good idea to leave a tin or box near the service pipe where dockets can be safely stored.

Customers can confirm the volume extracted by reading the sight gauges attached to each tank and comparing the levels against the docket. Alternatively, you can make an arrangement to attend a service. 

At any time, you can check the volume of effluent within the tank by lifting the inspection lid or by using the 'dip stick' on top of the tank.

Excessive rain periods

Rainwater may infiltrate tanks causing an increase of wastewater in the collection well. 

If cracks in the lid are noticed, it is important to get them fixed to maintain the watertight integrity of the system.

The maximum capacity of a collection well refers to the highest volume of effluent it can safely hold. When the capacity is exceeded, several risks arise:

Structural Damage: Excess effluent can cause cracks in the tank and pipe joints.

Environmental Contamination: Effluent may leak into the environment, leading to pollution.

Legal Consequences: Under the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, such leaks are considered offences. Individuals can face on-the-spot fines up to $15,000, and corporations up to $30,000.

To ensure your effluent system operates efficiently and to avoid the risk of overflows, we recommend selecting a pumpout frequency that, on average, uses approximately 50% of your tank’s total capacity. This approach provides a buffer for unexpected increases in water usage—such as during holidays, gatherings, or seasonal changes—and helps prevent the need for emergency or extra pumpouts.

By maintaining this buffer, you can:

• Reduce the likelihood of needing to book an extra or emergency pumpout.
• Ensure your system remains compliant and environmentally safe.

If you're unsure about the right frequency for your household, please contact us for advice or request a change to your pumpout schedule.