The are specific guidelines for buffer distances in relation to on site wastewater disposal. The disposal area is required to be a minimum distance from various site features. For example it should be at least 100m from a permanent water course. The buffer distances as given in ‘On Site Sewage Management for Single Households’ and are listed in the table below.
| System |
Recommended Buffer Distances |
| All land application systems |
- 100 metres to permanent surface waters (eg. rivers, streams, lakes etc.)
- 250 metres to domestic groundwater well
- 40 metres to other waters (eg. farm dams, intermittent, waterways and drainage channels, etc.)
- 40 metres to other waters (eg. farm dams, intermittent, waterways and drainage channels, etc.)
|
| Surface spray irrigation |
- 6 metres if area up- gradient and 3 metres if area down gradient of driveways and property boundaries
- 3 metres to paths and walkways
- 6 metres to swimming pools
|
| Surface drip and trickle irrigation |
- 6 metres if area up- gradient and 3 metres if area down gradient of swimming pools, property boundaries, driveways and buildings
|
Subsurface
irrigation |
- 6 metres if area up- gradient and 3 metres if down- gradient of swimming pools property boundaries, driveways and buildings
|
| Absorption system |
- 12 metres if area up- gradient and 6 meters if area down- gradient of property boundary
- 6 metres if up- gradient and 3 metres if down- gradient of swimming pools, driveways and buildings
|
