Wastewater (Sewage) is the community's water borne wastes, which is defined as liquids with or without matter in solution or suspension, discharged into Council's sewerage system and includes trade wastes and geothermal wastes.

Who do I contact about Wastewater/sewer issues?

• Wastewater problems within your property               
  A Plumber
• Blocked W/W Mains                                            
  RDC Utilities Operations Engineer (Wastewater)/ Utilities Operations Assistant   
• Wastewater Treatment Plant
  RDC Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager
• Any further Wastewater related problems
  RDC Utilities Operations Engineer (Wastewater)
• Trade waste (waste water from a trade)
  RDC Pollution Control Officers
• Wastewater problems in the forest
  RDC Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager
• Odours from the Wastewater Treatment Plant
  RDC Wastewater Treatment Plant Manager
  

If your property has a trading premises connected to Council’s Waste Water (Sewerage) System then this applies to you.

If you are trading from a premises connected to Council’s Sewerage system then this applies to you too. 

What is trade waste?

Trade waste is any liquid, with or without matter in suspension, and can include domestic sewage type waste water, that is discharged from a trade premises into Council's Waste Water (Sewerage) System. Click here for more information about Trade Waste.

Why is there a need for Council to provide for the service of accepting Trade’s liquid waste trade discharge into the Water (Public sewer) system?

Trades have the potential to, and are likely to, discharge matter in their waste water that may harm and damage  the Sewerage System and effect the land and Lakes Water Quality; so   Council  makes provisions  :

• To protect the health and safety of all people working in the wastewater system by applying strict standards for harmful substances;
• To protect receiving waters from toxic substances contained in trade waste discharges;
• To protect the wastewater system and the Wastewater Treatment Plant from damage due to harmful substances from trade waste sources;
• To assist Rotorua District  Council to meet relevant environmental and other regulations;
• To assist wastewater processing operations to produce effluent and bio solids of a guaranteed quality that can be safely disposed of.
• To encourage waste minimisation and cleaner production in the commercial and   Trading sectors; and
• to encourage and enable water conservation.
• To protect the District’s Land and Lakes Water Quality.

What are Council’s conditions for a trade to be connected to, and use, Council’s Waste Water (Sewerage) system?

Council uses a range of applicable laws and regulations; relying mainly on Council’s Water Services and Trade waste bylaws; (click here to get a copy of the Water Services and Trade Waste Bylaw ) to govern and regulate conditions for Trades to be connected to and use Councils Sewer.

What are the Types of Trades that Council’s Water services and Trade waste bylaw applies to?

The following table is  list  types of Trades that Council's trade waste bylaw relates to