True Water recently installed a septic tank and ETA bed system to service a new two bedroom granny flat for a plant nursery in Tintenbar, NSW. The Little Gem Nursery needed to meet the council requirements for onsite sewage management as part of their introduction of new onsite accommodation.
We were contacted by a regular client, East Coast Granny Flats. They were building the secondary dwelling, or granny flat, at the Little Gem Nursery. With the nursery set in a rural location, there was no municipal sewerage connection. The existing sewage treatment system for the nursery was not able to cope with an additional wastewater load. Therefore, we needed to provide an onsite wastewater treatment system to service the new addition.
Assessing the Site Requirements
The first step was a site visit to assess the property and discuss options. This property had lots of space, good soils, and no nearby waterways. And with just a secondary dwelling, a simple septic tank system offered the best solution. Septic tank systems connect to ETA bed disposal areas and the open spaces between the nursery plants provided the perfect location for the Land Application Area.
Council regulations and site constraints often restrict the use of septic tanks these days. A secondary, or aerated, treatment system is needed instead. But when the site is suitable, a septic tank system can still be a good solution.
Council Application
The next step was to produce the report for the development application. Whether it’s called an Effluent Management Report, a Wastewater Report, or an OSSM Report, they are the same thing. We have environmental scientists on staff and pride ourselves on our excellent reports. The report lists details of the development, the property, and environmental conditions. All of these things, along with council regulations, dictate the size and type of wastewater system needed.
The council application went smoothly and quickly, and the project moved to the construction phase. We liaised with East Coast Granny Flats during construction to time the installation of the septic tank. It is often easiest for us to come in towards the end of the building process. This gives the builders space to move around without the tank in place.
Supply & Installation
We installed a 3,000 litre septic tank and 60m2 of ETA beds. Septic tanks come in a few different sizes. The size chosen is based on the possible number of inhabitants of a property. As it was just a 2 bedroom house, a smaller tank was enough. In addition, the size of the ETA beds is based on the number of possible inhabitants. But it is not just the number of inhabitants that decides the size of the disposal area. The type of soils and general environmental conditions play a big part too.
ETA Beds can also be made to different shapes. The nursery had existing plants growing that they didn’t want to move. Our designer planned beds that fit in neatly with the rows of plants. Our installer then installed the beds carefully between the rows. The ETA beds soon disappeared back into the landscape.
Septic tank installations are not as common as they used to be. But on large properties with simple environmental conditions, they can still be a good solution. They can offer a simple and passive long-term solution. The septic tank system was the best option for the nursery.
We enjoy doing unusual jobs like the nursery. We have also forged a reputation in the industry for being able to complete any job. If a project is possible, we will find a great solution for it. Our experience and expertise allows us to find a great solution for any job. The nursery job went very well, and their plants will continue growing happily.
Contact the team at True Water for a great solution for your own unique property.
