Applying for treatment plant approvals

If you're a treatment plant manufacturer, you need to understand the requirements and processes for treatment plant approvals.

The requirements for treatment plant approvals are under the Plumbing and Drainage Regulation 2019. The regulation includes provisions about:

  • testing requirements
  • transfer of ownership
  • amendments of treatment plant approvals
  • reporting and inspection powers where the chief executive considers that a particular treatment plant either:
    • is susceptible to systemic failures
    • may not be operating in accordance with the approval.

See the documents to accompany an application for a treatment plant approval.

New approvals

On-site sewage treatment plants

For a new application relating to a secondary on-site sewage treatment plant, the system must comply with Australian Standard AS1546.3:2017 (Secondary treatment systems) and the conformity assessment requirements.

Important – systems that can treat more than 4200L per day

Under the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018, a treatment plant approval can only be issued by the department for an onsite sewerage treatment plant if the system is capable of treating no more than 4200L of influent per day.

Greywater treatment plants

For a new application relating to a greywater treatment plant, the system must comply with the Queensland Plumbing and Wastewater Code, Schedule 1 – Greywater Treatment Plant Testing Approval and the conformity assessment requirements.

Renewing existing approvals

Where a treatment plant has an existing treatment plant approval, an application to renew the approval can be submitted for assessment on the provision that:

  • there is no change in design of the system that would trigger a requirement for a retest against the relevant standard or code
  • the department has not cancelled the current approval.

It is recommended that a new treatment plant approval is obtained prior the expiry date of the current approval.  It is not permitted to install a treatment plant as part of a plumbing and drainage system in Queensland if it does not have a valid treatment plant approval.

How to apply for new or renewed approval

To apply to the chief executive for a treatment plant approval:

  1. Complete and sign a Form 10—Treatment plant approval (PDF, 181KB) ensuring that all relevant fields are completed.
  2. Email the application to building.policy@epw.qld.gov.au and attach all relevant documentation.

Other laws/requirements

Other laws and requirements may be relevant to the installation of onsite sewerage and/or greywater treatment plant. This could include for example, environmentally relevant activity requirements under the Environmental Protection Regulation 2019, as well as local government requirements. A treatment plant approval issued by the department does not impact or override any additional requirements, and applicants should ensure that they are aware of all laws.