2005

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

WATER AND SEWERAGE AMENDMENT REGULATION 2005 (No 1)

Subordinate Law SL2005-16

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Circulated by authority of Simon Corbell MLA
Minister for Planning 

BACKGROUND AND OUTLINE

The Water and Sewerage Regulations 2001 create regulations covering various aspects of the water supply and drainage system and related work. 

The Water and Sewerage Amendment Regulation 2005 (No 1) will remove provisions prohibiting the installation of in-sink waste disposal units in domestic sanitary plumbing work. 

There currently exists a prohibition on the installation of in-sink waste disposal units. The prohibition was introduced as a water saving measure. Recent evidence suggests that even with high levels of market penetration, in-sink waste disposal units increase total urban water use by less than 1%. The prohibition is therefore an ineffective method of reducing urban water use. 

In medium density dwellings where suitable land is unavailable to residents, in-sink waste disposal units are seen as an alternative to composting – the preferred means of organic waste disposal. The prohibition of in-sink waste disposal units is therefore disadvantageous to residents in medium density dwellings. 

The small increase in the amount of organic matter entering the sewerage system as a result of the installation of in-sink waste disposal units will not present problems for the ACT’s waste water treatment plant. 

CLAUSE NOTES

Clause 1 provides for the name of the regulation to be the Water and Sewerage Amendment Regulation 2005 (No 1).   

Clause 2 provides that the regulation commences on the day after the notification day.   

Clause 3 provides that the regulation amends the Water and Sewerage Regulation 2001. 

Clause 4 substitutes section 16E (1) (b) and (c). This effectively removes sub-section (c), which prohibits the installation of in-sink waste disposal units in domestic sanitary plumbing work.