1 Policy Statement
Barwon Water is committed to effectively managing acceptance and discharge of Trade Waste to Barwon Water's sewers to ensure the sewerage system is environmentally and economically sustainable while aiming to maintain an excellent level of service to our customers.
2 Scope
Barwon Water is a statutory corporation with water supply and sewerage responsibilities conferred on it by the Water Act 1989 (Vic) (the Act).
The Act empowers Barwon Water to accept Trade Waste if it so decides. It is an offence under section 178 of the Act for any Person to discharge trade waste to the sewerage system other than in accordance with a Trade Waste Agreement or a Trade Waste Permit.
Barwon Water regulates the discharge of Trade Waste into Barwon Water’s Sewers and sewerage works through the Trade Waste Policy Guidelines and a system of Trade Waste Agreements and Trade Waste Permits.
This Trade Waste Policy prohibits the discharge of substances that have the potential to damage the environment, the sewerage system, the treatment processes or public health. Occupiers of commercial and industrial Premises must enter into a Trade Waste Agreement or obtain a Trade Waste Permit before discharging Trade Waste into Barwon Water's sewerage system.
All managers and employees involved in the acceptance and discharge of Trade Waste to Barwon Water's sewers are responsible for understanding, implementing, maintaining and continuously improving the trade waste risk management system.
3 Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to direct the implementation and use of a preventive risk management approach to achieve key objectives for Trade Waste as described in the Statement of Obligations under the Water Industry Act 1994 for Barwon Water and Barwon Water’s Strategy 2030. This will ensure compliance with the requirements of the Water (Trade Waste) Regulations 2014, Environment Protection Act 2017, and ESC’s Water Industry Standard – Trade Waste Customer Service 2022.
4 Policy Details
Barwon Water is committed to working with trade waste customers and other relevant agencies to:
- proactively manage the risks and protect the environment given due consideration to General Environmental Duties (GED)
- protect the health and safety of members of the public and Barwon Water employees
- protect Barwon Water's sewerage works and associated assets
- maximise opportunities for reuse of recycled water and biosolids
- recover the true costs associated with the receipt, carriage, treatment and disposal of Trade Waste and maintenance and repair of Barwon Water’s sewerage system, to encourage waste minimisation and cleaner production including waste prevention, recycling, and pre-treatment of Trade Waste
- promote water conservation, and
- maintain compliance with Barwon Water’s Trade Waste Management Plan, Trade Waste Agreements, Trade Waste Permits and the Water Act 1989 and relevant regulations.
For further information on Barwon Water's acceptance and management of Trade Waste, please read the Trade Waste Policy Guidelines below or request a copy by calling 1300 656 007.
Barwon Water's Full Trade Waste Policy Guidelines (PDF 440.0 KB)
