Are Septic Tanks still used? Thankfully, septic tank systems are no longer permitted in new homes in most areas. While there are hundreds of thousands of existing Septic Tanks in homes all over Australia, a high number of these systems are failing. Local councils are undergoing programs to notify property owners of failing Septic Tanks, with a view to having them upgraded to an on-site wastewater treatment system that meets modern standards. If in doubt check with your local council.
Are Septic Tanks Bad?
Household wastewater poses huge problems when not proactively managed. Goal 6 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (https://sdgs.un.org/goals) is ‘the sustainable management of water and sanitation’. Right now, there are 3.5 billion people still living without safe toilets. In these situations, diseases spread, killing 1,000 children under five every single day ( https://www.worldtoiletday.info/).
Maintaining high standards of wastewater treatment and continuing to improve our on-site wastewater management standards is essential to the long-term health of our environment and the protection of our communities.
Septic tank effluent is not disinfected and is overloaded with damaging nutrients and bio-organic oxygen demand that degrades soil and water quality.
Eventually, septic tanks fail and/or disposal trenches become exhausted requiring removal and replacement.
