Safe and appropriate operation of sewerage and treatment works
The Department of Planning and Environment regularly inspects the safety, operation and maintenance of water treatment works and sewage treatment works owned and managed by councils in regional NSW.
These inspections confirm, for the Minister for Water and the council, that treatment works are operating safely and appropriately.
If they are not, the minister can exercise power to direct the council to take the necessary measures to ensure the proper safety, maintenance and working of water treatment and sewage treatment works under Section 61 of the Local Government Act 1993.
Scope and frequency of inspections
We tailor the scope and frequency of inspections to the requirements of each treatment works using a risk-based approach.
We determine inspection frequency using defined criteria:
- performance risk
- operating environment risk
- process risks (specifically CCP [critical control points] and OCP [operational control points])
- special case risk.
Collaboration is an important part of the inspection process. We give help and advice to councils to avoid escalation of potential issues. The process is designed to build trust, foster relationships, and share information needed to build council capacity. Compliance and enforcement options are used only as a last resort.
Key outcomes of inspections
Key outcomes of the inspections are recommendations to councils for improvements to safety, operations and maintenance of treatment works throughout NSW. We also offer mentoring for water utility council operators, as well as technical assistance in resolving operational matters before they become a problem.
Support and advice
In addition to our regulatory role, we give technical and other advice to local water utilities proactively and whenever requested by the utility. The department can assist local water utilities with developing the project from concept through to tendering and commissioning.
Regulatory and assurance framework
The regulatory and assurance framework is designed to make sure that local water utilities manage risks effectively and strategically. It applies to local water utilities in regional NSW.