Greywater systems

Greywater is waste water from the shower, hand basin, laundry and kitchen.

You can use greywater to water your gardens. You may also be able to use it in your toilet cisterns, depending on the level and type of treatment.

Greywater may be heavily contaminated with bacteria and so its use is restricted. Toilet waste (known as blackwater) is highly polluted and must not be used in a greywater system.

DGTSs are designed to collect, treat and reuse greywater.

They must be accredited systems.

Council approval - PDF - 149 KB is required to install them and an application fee applies.

GDDs are gravity-fed or pumped (using a small surge tank) immediately to sub-surface irrigation around the garden or lawn. No greywater is stored for later use.

A GDD has a manual valve, switch or tap that enables you to swap between the GDD and the sewer.

Surge tanks must be fitted with an overflow pipe connected to the sewer.

Your GDD does not need Council approval if:

• It is installed in accordance with NSW Plumbing code standards
• There is no other sewage management facility on the premises
• It meets the following standards:
  • prevention of the spread of disease by micro-organisms, the spread of foul odours, contamination of water and degradation of soil and vegetation
  • ensures that people don't come into contact with untreated sewage or effluent
  • minimisation of adverse impacts on the premises and surrounding land.

Your GDD must be designed and operated in accordance with NSW Greywater Reuse guidelines. If any of the above criteria are not met, you must lodge an application with Council - PDF - 122 KB to install the device. An application fee applies.