Environment Protection Regulations 2021

This regulation applies on and after 1 July 2022.

A person in management or control of land on which an on-site wastewater management system is located must notify the council, in whose municipal district the system is located, as soon as practicable after the person becomes aware, or reasonably should have been aware, that the system poses a risk of harm to human health or the environment or is otherwise not in good working order.

Without limiting subregulation (2), the system poses a risk if any of the following apply to the system—

the absorption field of the system becomes sodden with wastewater pooling on the surface of the surrounding land;

there is wastewater runoff from the disposal area;

there is an odour of effluent emanating from or near the system;

the drain or toilet of the system is running slowly;

the grease trap of the system is full or blocked;

there are any other signs that indicate that the system poses a risk of harm to human health or the environment or is otherwise not in good working order.

A notification under this regulation must include the steps the person has taken, or proposes to take, to ensure the system no longer poses a risk of harm to human health and the environment and is returned to good working order.