A Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) is a collective system for the management of wastewater generated in a town, regional area or other community where there is not access to SA Water sewerage infrastructure.

The CWMS comprises of a network of pipes and pumping stations which transport the wastewater (sewage) from individual properties to the treatment site (wastewater treatment plant).

Currently it is your responsibility as a property owner to install, operate, maintain, service and replace (as required) your onsite wastewater system.

You may be managing your wastewater via a septic/soakage system or through use of an aerated wastewater treatment system (i.e. enviro-cycle).

Your wastewater system is likely to have been installed before 1988. If this is the case, it is at a high risk of failure due to age.

Wastewater systems have a lifespan of about 30 years. This lifespan can be shortened if the system is not maintained with the manufacturers specifications.

Ageing onsite wastewater systems are at an increased risk of failure which presents risks to public and environmental health.

There are lots of benefits, not only for the town but for the individual property owners as well. Some benefits include:

• Provides a long-term solution for wastewater management. For example, onsite wastewater treatment systems eventually fail and require costly replacements.
• Ensures that people with failing wastewater systems or properties with limited space have an option to connect to a system off-site and continue living in their home. Approximate cost to replace an onsite wastewater system can range from $30,000 - $50,000.
• Reduction in the risk to public health due to failing systems and exposure to effluent. Ability for families (children and animals) to utilise the land without a risk.
• Maintenance of individual septic or aerobic tanks will not be required – you can flush and forget.
• There is a significant cost saving between installing a new on-site wastewater system vs connecting to the CWMS.
• Possibility to further develop your land as area not required for an onsite wastewater system. For example, property extensions, building sheds, or swimming pools (subject to planning regulations).
• Convenience.

In April 2013, SA Health introduced the Onsite Wastewater Systems Code (the Code).

The Code outlines the requirements for the installation of new onsite wastewater systems. These requirements have been set to protect public and environmental health.

Any new onsite wastewater system is required to comply with the Code.

Most onsite wastewater systems in Two Wells, regardless of type, were installed before the Code was introduced and don’t have a suitable land disposal area for a new onsite wastewater system to achieve compliance.

While some properties were compliant when built, they might not meet today’s standards.

The current wastewater code was introduced in 2013. If your system was installed before 2013, it might not be compliant anymore. Many properties in this area aren’t large enough to upgrade to a compliant system. It is very difficult, expensive, or sometimes even impossible for properties smaller than 1,200m² to install a compliant system, especially if it already has sheds, patios, or landscaping.

Of the 295 properties using septic or holding tanks, 278 are smaller than 1,200m².

We already have 10 properties that have been issued Section 92 Notices under the Public Health Act 2011 – formal notices requiring expensive system upgrades or repairs. The actual number of failing systems is probably higher because many people might just organise pump outs more often, or don’t report failures.

If your property is over 1,200m² and you have a compliant system, or believe you could upgrade to one without a CWMS, please let us know via the feedback form.

If you have installed a new system, please let us know via the feedback form.

The CMWS network will service about 400 properties in the original township of Two Wells. Refer to the map for the service area.

Several CWMS technical options have been considered as part of the concept design process. The option identified as most technically feasible and cost effective is a full sewer option.

The proposed CWMS will be constructed, operated and maintained by Council.

A full sewer CWMS would see the construction of sewer main infrastructure and pump stations to transfer wastewater from your property to the existing Wastewater Treatment Plant near Temby Road, Two Wells (owned and operated by Alano).

The Wastewater Treatment Plant will undergo some minor upgrades to accommodate the wastewater volumes expected from the original Two Wells township.

Using the existing Wastewater Treatment Plant alleviates the need for a new treatment plant to be constructed which would increase costs and impact visual amenity.

During detailed design further investigations will occur to confirm that this is the most appropriate and cost-effective option.

Under the South Australian Public Health Act 2011 and associated Wastewater Regulations (2013) there are requirements that must be met in operating an onsite wastewater management system.

If it is found that your onsite system doesn’t meet these requirements, a Section 92 Public Health Notice may be issued. The Public Health Notice would provide directions on what action needs to be taken to ensure compliance and set timeframes for completion. All actions, including the costs, would be your responsibility.

If compliance isn’t achieved in accordance with the Public Health Notice issued, further enforcement action can be taken.

If you need to upgrade your system and are unable to meet the requirements of the Onsite Wastewater Systems Code, you will be restricted on the type of onsite wastewater system that can be installed. Your only option may be a holding tank or approved alternative treatment and containment system. These options can be expensive and may not be appropriate for long-term management.

You will require a licensed plumber to connect your property to the CWMS.

Plumbing within your land will need to be diverted from your current onsite system to the new CWMS connection point, which will be located at the front of your property within the road reserve.

Council could consider the possibility of grace periods – for example, properties with systems newer than 10 years old could have additional time before a compulsory connection is required.

To comply with the Code, your onsite wastewater system needs to be the right size for the volumes of wastewater generated, have adequate disposal area, and be located away from built form.

This may limit your ability to make improvements or make best use of your property.

Connecting to a CWMS will provide the opportunity to do these things, whether you are looking to extend, build a shed, install a pool, add to your business or create a veggie patch. Some of these works require approval. Council’s planning and environmental health officers are available for you to discuss these matters and to help you work through how to make best use of your property.

Some properties have been unable to receive approval for subdivision as they cannot meet the required standards for installation of an onsite wastewater system.

Removing the need to have an onsite wastewater system by connecting to the CWMS may make receiving approval to subdivide easier.

Once the CWMS is available to connect to, onsite wastewater systems will no longer be approved for installation.

Yes. If you are in the proposed service area, you will eventually be required to connect to the CWMS. Council may consider a grace period for some properties, however the circumstances and time period that this may be allowed has not been determined.

Yes. If you have a vacant block within the CWMS service area, you can connect. It will be easier to receive approval to develop and potentially subdivide the block, as you won’t have to install an onsite wastewater system and meet the disposal land area requirements.

Once the CWMS is available to connect to, onsite wastewater systems will no longer be approved for installation.

Yes. If the CWMS proceeds and your property is within the service area, you will be required to connect. Council may consider a grace period for some properties, however the circumstances and timeframe that this may be allowed would be determined on a case-by-case basis.

The CWMS proposed is a full sewer system which means that your onsite wastewater system is no longer required.

It is likely that following connection to the CWMS, the existing onsite wastewater system would need to be emptied and decommissioned.

Project planning has been funded by the LGA SA’s CWMS program.

Property owners in the service area would pay CWMS fees and charges, which would essentially replace the cost of maintaining or upgrading current systems. The LGA will fund a portion of those costs.

Any new properties in the service area would be required to pay CWMS fees and charges.

If Council borrows money, it would be through a standalone loan. Repayments would not be made by the entire Council area – costs would be covered by CWMS fees and charges to properties in the service area.

The Local Government Association of South Australia (LGA), through its partnership with the State Government, will provide a substantial subsidy toward Council’s costs of establishing the CWMS.

While the subsidy will fund a portion of the costs to establish the CWMS, the remaining funding will be provided by Council and then recovered from property owners who can connect to the CWMS network extension. Property owners will be required to contribute to both the construction and ongoing operation of the CWMS.

Under the LGA Funding Agreement, we are required to charge an equivalent amount to the current SA Water residential connection cost which is reviewed annually. For this financial year (2025/2026), the cost is $7,448.

In addition, as part of the Housing Road Map, SA Water has introduced an augmentation charge as part of the SA Government’s Housing Roadmap from those in the Greater Adelaide Region, including Two Wells. This charge will increase each year, for the next 5 years. For this financial year (2025/2026), the augmentation charge is $2,560.

This is collected through:

• a capital recovery charge
• an annual service fee
• individual costs to connect dwelling to connection point.

Capital recovery charge

As part of securing funding with the LGA, Council is required to collect a one-off payment per property to contribute to the construction of the CWMS.

This payment is at the same rate as what you would pay to connect to a SA Water system. This one-off payment is currently $7,488 (annually adjusted on 1 July each year), the augmentation charge may be payable also.

You will be able to choose to pay the capital charge:

• Upfront (no interest)
• With a payment arrangement through Council (with interest)

We are able to offer payment arrangements through financing from the Local Government Finance Authority.

As an example, if the capital recovery charge is paid over 10 years, applying a fixed interest rate of 5.2%, the annual capital connection repayments would be $1294.57. For the life of the 10-year loan, the total capital contribution would be $12,945.70. Please note that these are indicative capital connection costs and interest rates.

The capital charge will be payable once the CWMS is operational. If Council decides to proceed, this is expected to be in 2027.

Annual Service Fee

Ongoing annual service fees to operate and maintain the CWMS will be collected by Council. This service fee will appear as part of your annual rates notice. This will be similar to that of an SA Water charge which for this financial year, is approximately $630.

Individual costs to connect a dwelling to a connection point

It will be your responsibility to have a licensed plumber connect your property to the CWMS. Your drains will need to be modified to bypass your current onsite wastewater system and connect to the CWMS.

The costs for a plumber to connect your property to the CWMS will vary depending on the amount of work required. The connection point for the CWMS will typically be located at the front of your property.

We are considering establishing agreements with licensed plumbers to support you with the costs and works to connect your property to the CWMS. Please let us know via the feedback form if you are interested.

All costs will be applied to a single property. If you own multiple properties within the CWMS service area, you will be required to pay the associated costs for each property (i.e. if you own 2 properties, you will pay 2 capital charges).

Yes. Any future developments or properties connecting to the system would be required to contribute to the project.

We understand that it may not be possible for you to pay the capital charge up front. That’s why we are offering different ways to pay.

We can discuss an individual payment arrangement which will enable you to pay the capital charge over time. Interest will be applied to this payment method.

We are also exploring the opportunity to establish agreements with licensed plumbers to support you with the costs of connecting your property to the CWMS.

We welcome other ideas on how we can support you with this transition.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, contact us to request financial hardship assistance. We may provide different payment options if you are having difficulty paying your council rates or other amounts due, including payment plans, extensions, or postponement of rates for seniors. There may be other agencies that can provide you with support or financial counselling.

Eligibility criteria applies. Visit our website for more information: apc.sa.gov.au/financial-hardship

The option we are considering is the most cost-effective option, because it would connect to an existing wastewater treatment plant, and recycled water could be used in our green spaces.

Council facilities within the proposal area would also connect to the CWMS. This cost would be part of our annual operating budget, just like other operational costs.

The proposal area would be at risk of public and environmental health issues. Non-compliant properties would risk of fines or need to install new systems.

If more properties experience compliance issues in the future, and wanted Council to revisit this proposal, the costs would be higher and access to the LGA’s funding may not be available.

Council will build, operate and maintain the CWMS. This includes the sewerage pipes and pump stations to transfer the wastewater from your property to the treatment facility.

Alano will continue to operate the wastewater treatment plant.

You will pay an annual service fee to Council as part of your rates notice.

After being treated, the recycled water will be used for watering at the Two Wells Oval precinct. This is a great way to keep this valued community asset green without drawing on other water sources.

If Council decides to proceed with the proposal, and grant funding is secured through the Local Government Association of SA, the next step would be to undertake detailed design of the CWMS.

There is still a lot of work to be done. It is unlikely that connection to the CWMS would occur within the next 2 years while this work is undertaken.

We will keep you informed each step of the way and work with you to ensure that you are ready to connect when the time comes.

Each property will be individually surveyed and appropriate connection points provided.

Consultation is open from Monday 3 November to 9am Monday 1 December 2025.

We want to hear your thoughts about the proposal and how we can best support you in the transition to the CWMS.

Fill out the feedback form, or attend an information session to speak to our team.