User pays for septic tank services

A charge has been introduced for the disposal of septic tank waste at Far North
District Council wastewater treatment plants.

From 01 July, septic tank cleaning companies which previously were able to dispose
of the sludge pumped from household tanks free, are now being charged $28 a
cubic metre.

The charge was introduced to create equity between householders on public
sewerage schemes which contribute towards the cost of maintaining and cleaning
out settling ponds at wastewater treatment stations and households on septic tanks
which previously made no contribution.

The council notified its intention to introduce the charge earlier this year and struck
opposition from tank cleaners concerned that they were being asked to act as
collection agents and would be carrying the cost until they could recover their outlay
from the householders using their service.

However the council last week confirmed its intention to proceed with the cost-
recovery initiative.

"We have agreed to consult on access to, and the design of, discharge points to
make it easier for the tank cleaners, and to continue to maintain a closer working
relationship with the industry," Infrastructure & Assets General Manager David Penny
said today.

"But it was blatantly unfair to expect householders on reticulated schemes to carry
the cost of disposing of the estimated 16,000 cubic metres of sludge introduced to
the treatment plants by septic tank cleaners each year," he said.