Understanding your sewerage service
As a property owner it's important to understand the type of sewerage system located at your property and what you can do in the event of a sewer blockage or overflow.
Types of sewerage systems in the Shoalhaven
Open the tabs below to find out more about the system you have at your property.
Council's sewerage network
A reticulated sewerage service is the most common type of system located in the Shoalhaven, with reticulated networks mainly located within the urban areas.
If you are connected to Council's sewerage network, it means your wastewater is transferred through a series of underground pipes to one of 13 wastewater treatment plants across the region.
Shoalhaven Water is responsible for operating and maintaining this extensive network of sewer pipes.
If you experience a sewer blockage on your property, we want to know. All non-urgent problems can be submitted online and will be investigated by us within a few days.
On investigation we will:
- Clear any blockage within Council mains, at our expense.
- If we have investigated a blockage or overflow on your property and the problem is on your side, we will advise you to call a plumber.
We operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you experience a sewer overflow, call us immediately.
Click here to find out how to report a non-urgent sewer blockage online.
On-site sewage management systems
If your home is not connected to Council’s sewerage system, then you are likely disposing of your wastewater via an on-site sewage management system. These types of systems are more common in rural areas or towns that are not near the reticulated system.
Although there are many variations of on-site effluent systems, there are 3 main types in use in the Shoalhaven, and they are:
Effluent Pumpout Systems are inground tanks registered with us to receive ongoing regular scheduled pumpouts.
Septic Tank (absorption) Systems are inground tanks that operate an on-site effluent disposal such as a trench or seep-away system.
Aerated Wastewater Treatment Systems (AWTS) are inground tanks that treat the effluent before discharging it through an on-site effluent disposal system.
More information on these types of systems can be found when you click on the above headings.
Pressure sewer systems
Pressure Sewer Systems are generally located in areas where conventional gravity systems are not a viable servicing option, such as on flat or rocky terrain. They operate like a normal sewerage system by taking wastewater from your home and transferring it to the local reticulation system and then on to a sewage treatment plant.
If this kind of system services your property, it will be installed in a location that is accessible for Shoalhaven Water to maintain it. At no times are they to be adjusted, serviced, or relocated by any persons other than Shoalhaven Water operations staff.
Follow this link to find out more.
If you are experiencing a sewer overflow, call us immediately - we operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.