Avoid harm to the environment by keeping your on-site wastewater system and disposal field working well. If you are building a new system or upgrading, check the consent requirements.
As a property owner, you are responsible for maintaining your on-site wastewater system and knowing how it works.
All on-site wastewater systems need to dispose of the water used in your home. In most cases, this is a disposal field. This area is where the treated water from your septic tank is distributed. It may be lawn or bush. The area should not be used by vehicles or stock.
If the area is boggy, smelly or overgrown, there might be a leak that needs to be repaired.
Most properties in Auckland are connected to Watercare's piped network and pay for water supply and wastewater collection and treatment
Households in rural areas and on the Hauraki Gulf islands often do not have access to Watercare's network. They have on-site wastewater systems to treat their sewage and other wastewater.
A primary system has a septic tank and disposal field. These units tend to be older and use simple technology.
Secondary and tertiary systems have multiple treatment tanks and a disposal field. They often use electric pumps and have multiple chambers for increased filtration.
Other systems include composting toilets and worm farms, which have their own maintenance requirements.
Email us at safeseptic@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz or contact your system manufacturer if you are unsure of your maintenance requirements.
In July 2022, we sent letters to property owners to request their proof of wastewater maintenance.
This letter explains:
Failure to maintain your system may result in a fine or penalty.
There are many companies in Auckland who service, pump out and repair on-site wastewater systems.
The companies listed in the table use our standard form for servicing. They provide this form directly to us on your behalf.
| Company name and contact | Service areas | System and service types |
|---|---|---|
Abbotts Drainage Ltd | Auckland-wide, including islands |
|
A C I Electrical Services Ltd b.fussell@xtra.co.nz
| Kawau Island |
|
Adams Drain Company 0800-247-862 | North, west, south, Waiheke |
|
Affordable Drainage Ltd | North, west, south |
|
Alpha Drainage | North, west |
|
Altitude Drainage Limited | South, Aotea Great Barrier Island |
|
Aotea Maintenance | Aotea / Great Barrier Island |
|
Approved Wastewater | North, west |
|
A-Rated Wastewater | North, west, south |
|
ASR Group Limited | North, west, south |
|
Baker Plumbing | North, west |
|
Barrier Drainage Ltd | Aotea / Great Barrier Island |
|
Bassett Plumbing & Drainage Ltd | Auckland-wide, including islands |
|
Blake Civil Construction Ltd | North, west |
|
Burnetts Septic Tank Services | North |
|
CCH Ltd | Hauraki Gulf islands |
|
Cleartech | North, west |
|
Collins Plumbing & Gas | Auckland-wide |
|
Coppertop Plumbing Drainlaying Gasfitting Ltd | South |
|
Devco Maintenance Ltd | South |
|
Drain Ninjas | Auckland-wide, including islands |
|
Drain Pro Waikato | South |
|
Drainage Gods | North, west |
|
Drainage TV Ltd | North, west, south |
|
DrainPro | Auckland-wide, including islands |
|
Drains.co Ltd | South |
|
Dynamic Pipeworks Ltd | North, west |
|
Dynamic Plumbing Works | North, west, south |
|
Earthbound Contracting Ltd | South |
|
Echo Drainage | North, west |
|
Element Plumbing (Shaun Lincoln) | North, west |
|
Enviro Water | Auckland-wide, including islands |
|
GPA Plumbing & Drainage 027 494 3524 | North, west |
|
Grantham Hydro Limited | South |
|
Hammerhead Contractors Ltd | North, west, south |
|
Haus Plumbing | North |
|
Helensville Drainage | North, west |
|
Hydro Specialists Ltd | Auckland-wide, including islands |
|
Hydrovac | North, west, south, Waiheke |
|
I Suk Up | North, west |
|
Island services limited | Hauraki Gulf islands |
|
Jet Waste & Water Limited | Auckland-wide, including islands |
|
JG Wech Plumbers & Drainlayers | North |
|
Kaukapakapa Drainage Ltd | North, west |
|
Kiwi flow | Hauraki Gulf islands |
|
Laser Plumbing Warkworth | North |
|
Laser Plumbing Whenuapai | North, west, south |
|
Macjimray | North |
|
Mullins Contractors Ltd | North, west |
|
National Civil & Drainage Ltd septic@nationalcivil.co.nz
| North, west, south |
|
Natural Flo Drainage Limited | Auckland-wide, including |
|
Neil Wildman Plumbing | South |
|
Nexus Plumbing | North, west, south |
|
Outflo Drainage Ltd | South |
|
Parkinson & Holland Ltd 09 267 9549 | South |
|
PASLR Crucial Services Ltd | North, west |
|
Platinum Drainage | Auckland-wide, including islands |
|
Pro Pump & Filtration | North, west, south |
|
Property Maintenance And Septic Services | South |
|
Pure Water and Plumbing and Drainage | North |
|
Seal Plumbing and Gas | North, west, south |
|
Septiclean 0800 687 378 (0800 MTSEPTIC) | South |
|
Southeys Group Ltd | North, west, south |
|
SST Services (Skybridge NZ) | South |
|
Stoney Ridge | Waiheke Island |
|
Tanks and Drains Ltd | North, west |
|
TDG Environmental | North, west, south |
|
The Drain Slayer Ltd | South |
|
Waiuku Waste Disposal | South |
|
Waste Water Maintenance Ltd | North, west, south |
|
Water FX Limited | North, west |
|
Waterprojects | North, west, south |
|
Watertech Plus | North, west, south |
|
Wilplumb Ltd | West |
|
We do not guarantee the work carried out by any service provider.
We recommend using a company approved by your system manufacturer.
The rules for inspecting and maintaining on-site wastewater systems are set by the Auckland Unitary Plan (PDF 65.8KB).
At minimum:
Maintenance involves inspecting your system and cleaning or repairing any parts that might be blocked, damaged or worn.
The sludge and scum need to be pumped out when it fills half the volume of the tank. This work should always be done by a trained professional.
Without proper maintenance, your system can stop treating your wastewater.
Faulty on-site wastewater systems can harm human health and the environment.
Your system needs maintenance if you notice:
Where you can, avoid:
If you do not maintain your system properly, you can be fined for each day the faulty system is used.
The design of your on-site wastewater system needs to suit the way it is used. Review your on-site wastewater system if:
The above changes mean more water will flow through your system, putting more strain on how well your tanks and disposal field can treat your sewage and wastewater.
If you upgrade your on-site wastewater system or build a new one, you will need to apply for a building consent and may need a resource consent.
Visit Install or alter an on-site wastewater treatment and disposal system.
We pump out standard septic tanks, long drops, greywater tanks and grease traps every three years for properties in the former Waitākere Local Board area.
If you own property in this area, you pay a targeted rate for this service, but you still need to arrange your own inspections with a private company every three years.
This pump-out programme does not cover secondary or tertiary systems, which need maintenance every six months.
Contact septic.tank@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for more information about the Waitākere pump-out programme.
Email safeseptic@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz for information about maintenance and water quality concerns.
