Pressure sewer systems

The Homeowners' Guide tells you how to keep the system running smoothly.

Remember, only water-based or food-based by-products or toilet paper should go down drains.

Pressure Sewer System Homeowner's Guide(PDF, 527KB)

Get an overview of the operation and maintenance of the system by reading these key requirements:

Pressure Sewer System Key Requirements(PDF, 158KB)

Check whether:

• one of your appliances is emptying a large amount of water quickly into the pressure sewer system
• it is or has just been raining. If it is / has, stormwater could be getting into your drainage system.

Both of these situations can cause problems, so please report them to us. In the meantime continue to use your pressure sewer system as normal.

Pressure sewer pumps get blocked when things go down the drain that shouldn’t. At recent call outs we have found sanitary items, clothes, baby wipes and toys blocking the pumps.

If the system is damaged or needs repair, the alarm goes off. If this happens, switch the alarm off by pressing the button underneath the alarm panel. If the alarm light is still active after 15 minutes, call us for assistance.

If your alarm goes on and off on a regular basis, please call us for advice. 

Phone:  09 430 4200

Our service contractor will contact you to provide advice. Please do not attempt to repair the system yourself.

Remember that the power to the unit should always be turned on. 

If you turn the power off, and you have any leaking taps or appliances within your household, the pumping unit can fill up and overflow. If the unit is turned off, the alarm to warn you or your neighbours won’t work.

If you have had a power cut or you have turned the power off for a while, the alarm may sound for a while after power is restored until the wastewater level in the storage tank falls below the alarm level. The alarm should stop once the wastewater drops below the alarm level.

If it takes more than an hour, please call us. 

Phone:  09 430 4200

House guests

Your unit may have to pump more often if you have a lot more people than usual staying in your home. It is meant to do this.

Away from home

If you go away and leave your property for long periods it is wise to flush clean water through the pump system when you return.

The simplest way to do this is to part fill the bathtub and then let the water drain away through the system or run your washing machine through a cycle. This will activate the pump in the tank and flush clean water through the system.

• Tell your neighbours you are going away and what to do if the alarm goes off (they can contact us).
• Leave the power to the pumping unit going. If the unit is turned off at the power board, the alarm will not sound to warn neighbours if a problem does occur.