Sullage Pump-Out

Council is interested in understanding your thoughts on alternatives to pump-out septic systems.

We have a short survey that should take only five minutes to complete.

Your feedback will help shape Council’s education and advocacy programs for the future.

Click here to start the survey

Information to consider:

• The vast majority of properties in the Hawkesbury that have an on-site pump-out system is because there are no other alternatives. The type of on-site sewage management facility a property can have will be dependent on a variety of factors including, but not limited to characteristics such as lot size, soil type, property slope gradient and proximity to waterways
• In some situations, lot owners also have the ability to select their preferred type of on-site sewage management facility, given they remain compliant with legislation and standards. Though many properties can utilise alternative on-site sewage management facilities, many residents opt for a sewage pump-out service because alternatives require a higher degree of maintenance and/or pose a higher risk of failure and non-compliance.
• Alternatives to pump-out systems include but are not limited to: Irrigation systems, Septic tanks with adsorption trenches or evapotranspiration beds, Aerated wastewater treatment systems, Composting units, reed beds, sand filters and mounds, Worm farm systems and Dry composting systems
• While an ideal situation would be to have all properties connected to a sewer system, in areas where there is scattered population, lower population densities, environmental constraints (significant incline / distance to current infrastructure), the significant financial costs of installing sewer infrastructure and elevated ongoing costs makes this option prohibitive for many parts of the Hawkesbury.