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For many properties across the Hibiscus Coast and wider Auckland region, what happens underground can have a direct impact on the health of local waterways.
Auckland Council’s Safe Septic programme is working to improve water quality by focusing on education and compliance for the region’s estimated 45,000 onsite wastewater systems. Funded through the Water Quality Targeted Rate, the programme aims to reduce faecal contaminants entering streams, groundwater and beaches by ensuring systems are properly maintained.
Under the Auckland Unitary Plan, property owners are responsible for keeping their onsite systems in good working order. Since June 2022, properties not connected to the mains wastewater network must be able to provide proof their systems are functioning effectively, including regular servicing by qualified professionals.
The programme combines monitoring with education, helping residents understand how their systems work and what is required to keep them operating efficiently. This includes providing maintenance guidance, streamlining communication with property owners and prioritising responses where issues are identified, particularly in sensitive or coastal areas.
For Wayne Taia, a wastewater technician with Hydrovac, the shift in awareness has been noticeable over his 11 years in the field.
“In earlier days, a lot of people didn’t really understand what a wastewater treatment system does,” he says. “When it came to spending money on it, the attitude was ‘it’s just a septic tank.’”
Fortunately, that thinking is changing as systems become more advanced and education has improved, Taia says.
Modern setups often involve multiple stages, including primary treatment, aeration and clarification, before water is discharged into irrigation fields.
“You’ve got electrical components now – pumps, aerators, plumbing and irrigation lines. It all needs to be serviced. It’s like servicing a vehicle,” he says.
Servicing intervals have also tightened, with many systems now checked every six months rather than annually.
Taia says some of the most common issues he sees are blockages or breakages in irrigation lines, which can put pressure on the system, as well as the impact of non-biodegradable items.
“Wipes, chemicals and pharmaceuticals can all affect the bacteria that break down waste,” he says. “If your system starts to smell, that’s usually a sign something has gone wrong.”
Regular maintenance can prevent these problems. Simple steps, such as cleaning filters and keeping an eye on how the system is performing, can make a significant difference.
“Cleaning your filters is sometimes as simple as hosing it off and it saves the cost of a callout, ” Taia says.
Improved awareness is already making an impact, with more homeowners understanding the importance of regular servicing.
With proper care, these systems can do exactly what they are designed to do, safely treating wastewater and helping protect the Coast’s streams, groundwater and beaches for the wider community.
