Issue

Recommendation

Standardised Maintenance Report

Create a standardised maintenance report form for use by service agents for both GTS and ATU.

Maintenance Report Submission

Include in the COP the period within which maintenance reports must be submitted to the LG.

Effluent Testing

Ensure that appropriate testing is completed during each service visit for:

・ pH

・ Dissolved Oxygen

・ Turbidity

・ Free Residual Chlorine

Irrigation Area

Introduce an education program for ATU and GTS owner/operators regarding the importance of maintaining irrigation areas correctly.

Monitoring and Auditing

1) Require LG keep organised installation records.

2) Liaise with LG to develop a plan for the implementation of a monitoring and auditing system, controlled by LG and audited by DOHWA

3) Implement an online maintenance report submission system to decrease the resources required for data entry, and therefore monitoring, by LG.

Implementation of the recommendations:

・ Set up a proper, simple to use, software system allowing Local Governments to record and store installation information and servicing records. Preferably allowing maintenance reports to be directly submitted through the system to each Local Government.

・ Work with Local Governments so that they are able to understand and use the system set up by the Department of Health.

・ Audit Local Governments to ensure they keep installation and service records up to date, and monitor systems.

Regulation of Authorised Service Persons

1) Endorse all licensed plumbers who have completed a recognised ATU Service Training Course.

2) Liaise with the providers of accredited training courses so that the DOHWA continues to be involved, to ensure that persons receiving certification are aware of the WA regulatory requirements.

3) Liaise with Plumbers Licensing Board to discuss the possibility of including a wastewater technician sub-qualification under the Plumbers License, covering the installation, and servicing of ATU and GTS.

Service Interval

Increase the flexibility of the guidelines for ATU and GTS by removing the specified service interval and, instead, have the interval based solely on the manufacturer’s or designer’s recommendations, enforced by the DOHWA product approval conditions.

Owner Self-Servicing

1) Require self-servicing owners to complete an accredited course and follow the same reporting requirements as ASP.

2) Require manufacturers wanting to allow non-certified owners to service their own systems to demonstrate, to the DOHWA satisfaction, that they have the ability to monitor and manage the situation from a distance, including the ability to provide assistance in case of failure.

Interstate Communications

Increase contact between members of the National Onsite Regulators Forum as it could benefit to the policy development of all states within Australia.

Additional Issues Identified:

・ Code Compliance and Enforceability

・ Complaints

・ Handover Procedures

1) Modified penalties via infringement notices are required to address the issue of poorly maintained systems.

2) Establish an official process for the DOHWA to deal with complaints raised by EHO.

3) LG to develop a system to manage information regarding the systems when the systems ownership changes to ensure that maintenance agreements are entered into by the new owner/operator and the system is still appropriate for the new loading conditions.