Effluent Design and Permeability Reports

Preliminary Effluent Design Sketch

Most homes on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands require an onsite sewage treatment plant. In this instance it is necessary to attain a preliminary effluent design sketch from a qualified effluent designer. This sketch will identify the location of the potential building footprint/envelope, respond to the site constraints, and designate the effluent treatment bed size and ideal location.

The size of the treatment beds is determined by the number of bedrooms in the proposed dwelling, soil type/permeability and slope of the land.

If the council sewage system is accessible from your block, the connection will need to be approved as part of the plumbing permit/approval.

Effluent Design and Permeability Reports

Effluent Design and Reports are required for properties lacking access to council sewer systems. They detail how wastewater from the building will be managed. Such reports, mandated by the QLD Plumbing and Wastewater Code and Australian Standards (AS1547-2012), outline the disposal method and location within the property (either as a Disposal Area or Land Application Area) to ensure safe wastewater disposal. Your building designer will typically arrange for an effluent design and permeability report through a certified expert, often recommending a preferred consultant.

Wastewater on-site can be processed either via primary treatment, like traditional septic tanks, or through an advanced secondary treatment plant. The treated wastewater can then be released in various ways, including absorption beds for septic systems or alternatives like sprinklers, sub-surface drip irrigation, or absorption beds for treatment plants.

Your chosen Effluent Designer will assess your property's specific conditions to suggest the most effective wastewater disposal methods. They consider the disposal area's location, maintaining required distances from structures, property boundaries and water bodies, to propose optimal solutions in collaboration with the building designer and homeowner.

The Effluent Designer will create a report and design indicating the wastewater disposal plan, which is submitted to the council (typically facilitated through your building certifier) for approval and guides the installation of the disposal system.

While building designers don't endorse specific systems, they can assist in selecting the most appropriate system for your property.