Taking Used Water From Your Property for Treatment

Using the Natural Force of Gravity

Water always moves towards the lowest point, so Coffs Harbour Water uses the natural force of gravity to collect sewage from all the different homes, schools and businesses throughout the sewered areas of our community and deliver all of this sewage via pipes called "mains" to the Water Reclamation Plant for treatment.

However, gravity needs a helping hand when all the sewage in a sewerage main reaches the bottom of a hill and the sewage can't get over the next hill, so Coffs Harbour Water uses pumps in strategic places - usually the lowest point in the area, eg, near the creek or at the bottom of a hill -  to get the sewage moving to the Water Reclamation Plant.

Coramba and Nana Glen villages do not have reticulated sewerage systems. Each property in these villages deals with their own individual sewage through onsite wastewater management strategies, such as septic tanks or Biocycle systems. 

Did you know that harnessing the power of gravity to provide residents with a sewerage system is not a new concept? Gravity has been used since ancient times to move sewage away from homes! It is thought that the first gravity sewer system was used by the residents of Mahenjo-daro (Mound of the Dead) in present-day Pakistan around 2000BC. The first toilet resembling the flushing toilets we know in Australia today is thought to have been used by the Minoan civilisation on the Isle of Crete at their Royal Palace at Knossos around 4,000 years ago.

At Home

Your home is connected to the Council sewer system by a pipe called a house drain.  It's a good idea to look after your sewer because if you keep it in good working order it will save you money.

Looking after your sewer

At Your Place of Work

Your workplace is also connected to the Council sewer system by a pipe with an inspection opening. You need to look after the IO at your workplace for the same reason you need to look after the IO at your home (above).

However, the quality of the used water entering the Council sewer system at work can be much worse than what is generated at home. Water used for personal hygiene at work, eg, washing hands or flushing the toilet, is classified as "Domestic" sewage and does not pose an increased impact on Council wastewater treatment plants. All other sewage from your workplace, eg, manufacturing, restaurant and vehicle washing wastewater, is termed Liquid Trade Waste.

Your workplace needs a Liquid Trade Waste Approval from Coffs Harbour Water to discharge any of this type of sewage into the Council sewer system. 

Liquid Trade Waste

More Information 

Onsite Wastewater Management