Wastewater (Sewage) Disposal

Wastewater is the term used to describe a combination of domestic sewage (from showers, baths, toilets and kitchens) and trade wastes (liquid wastes produced by many industrial and commercial processes). Hutt City Council aims to manage the disposal of wastewater from residential, commercial and industrial properties efficiently and in a way that meets the needs of the community, while protecting our environment, and does not create nuisance or health issues.

We operate wastewater conveyance, treatment and disposal facilities to meet requirements of Resource Consents issued under the Resource Management Act and the requirements of regional and local planning documents.

Wastewater Point of Service - Who owns what?

Our point of service for wastewater services is the junction connection on the Council main (pipeline). We are responsible for maintaining the wastewater system up to and including the point of service.

You own and are responsible for all drains, pipework and plumbing which service your property and which are upstream of the point of service.

Wastewater Service Standards

We aim to achieve the following standards in the provision of wastewater services:

Service Availability

• The wastewater service to your property will be available at least 99.9% of the time.
  
• Interruptions to the wastewater service to individual properties will not exceed 24 hours at any one time.

Environmental

• 100% compliance with Resource Management Act Consent conditions.

Courtesy

• Property owners or occupiers affected by planned maintenance or upgrading will be notified at least 24 hours before the work commences.
  
• Reasonable efforts will be made to notify property owner or occupier before urgent work carried out on private property and written notification of work will be provided.
• Employees and contractors of Hutt City Council will carry identification which they must show you if they need to enter your property.
• We will reinstate any private property disturbed by us or our contractors to a standard as close as practical to that existing before the work was carried out.
• We will assist you to determine the location of any public wastewater pipelines within your property.

Target Response Times

• Urgent work requirements (non availability of wastewater service, significant health, safety and/or environmental risk) will be responded to within one hour.
  
• Non-urgent work requirements (nuisance or partial disruption to wastewater service) will be responded to within 24 hours.
• Routine work requirements and enquiries will be responded to within five working days.

You can help protect your wastewater system and our environment by doing the following:

• Taking all reasonable care to avoid damaging any public wastewater pipes which pass through your property, and ensuring that our ability to obtain prompt access to these pipes is not unduly restricted.
  
• Not planting trees or shrubs on your property within 1.5 metres of buried wastewater pipelines.
• Not discharging your stormwater (rainwater) into the wastewater system. Separate systems are provided for their disposal. The entry of stormwater into the wastewater system can cause the wastewater system to quickly become overloaded, and lead to overflows of sewage.
• Maintaining your wastewater drainage system in good condition and in compliance with the requirements of the New Zealand Building Code. This will minimise the likelihood of health risks to occupants of your property.
• Not discharging motor oil, fuels, solvents or highly toxic substances into the wastewater system.
• Notifying us if you wish to discharge liquid wastes from commercial or industrial processes to the wastewater system. This will enable us to determine if a Trade Waste consent (licence) is required.

By taking these precautions you can help to minimise future costs to ratepayers.

 

Wastewater Fees & Charges for 2009/10

Council reserves the right to vary fees and charges for goods and services or amenities provided by Council under Section 12 of the Local Government Act 2002 (other fees may be prescribed by by-law).

All fees and charges include Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Wastewater connection fee			$30.00
Trade Waste Consent fees		Consent fees	Consent
Check application, prepare and print permit, fax copy and post original, invoice requisition.			+ $200 if conditional consent required
Class 1: High Risk		$1,600.00	$1,800.00
Class 2: Moderate Risk		$800.00	$1,000.00
Class 3: Low Risk		$400.00	$600.00
Class 4: Minimal Risk		$160.00	$360.00
Note: May include laundries, dry cleaners, restaurants, small wash pads, supermarkets with delicatessens and/or bakery, caterers, canteens.
Class 5: Food Premises (Minimal Risk with Low Flow)		$70.00	N/A
Note: May include takeaway food premises, cafes and small restaurants
Application Fees		$80.00
Re-inspection Fees		$80.00
Trade Waste User Charges
Flow (per cubic metre)			$0.442 per m3
Total Suspended Solids			$0.633 per kg
COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand)			$0.257 per kg