Wastewater Reclamation Unit Installation SWMS
Wastewater reclamation unit (greywater / blackwater treatment) installation covers tank installation, UV/membrane treatment connection, AWTS commissioning per state EPA requirements, and biological hazard controls for commissioning waste.
SWMS variants reference your state’s WHS legislation. Instant download after payment.
Wastewater reclamation unit installation and service covers the installation, commissioning and servicing of wastewater reclamation and recycling units — package treatment systems that treat wastewater to a standard suitable for reuse, used on sites that recycle wastewater for non-potable purposes. It combines the plumbing and treatment installation with the biological hazards of the wastewater, the chemicals used in treatment, the electrical work for the unit, the potential for confined space entry into tanks, and the strict separation of the reclaimed water from the drinking water supply. This document is written on the basis that wastewater reclamation units are installed and serviced by a licensed plumber, with the biological, chemical, electrical, confined-space and separation hazards controlled.
Wastewater reclamation units are installed and serviced in connection with the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500 and AS/NZS 1547 where on-site treatment applies, together with the local authority's and the reclaimed-water requirements, which govern the treatment, the reclaimed-water quality and the permitted reuse. The reclaimed water must be kept strictly separate from the drinking water supply, the treatment chemicals are hazardous chemicals, and entry into treatment tanks can be a confined space. This document coordinates the biological, chemical, electrical, confined-space and separation controls so the unit is installed and serviced safely and the drinking water supply protected.
Hazards identified
9 hazards covered, sorted by priority.
Infection and illness from contact with wastewater during installation and service
Contamination of the drinking water from reclaimed-water cross-connection
Skin, eye and respiratory exposure to the treatment chemicals
Oxygen deficiency, contaminated atmosphere and restricted egress in the tanks
Electric shock where the unit is connected or serviced without isolation
Microbial hazard where the reclaimed water is not managed
Misuse and contamination where reclaimed-water outlets are not identified
Crush and musculoskeletal injury from the unit and equipment
Poisoning or fire from gases in the treatment tanks
Control measures
Hierarchy-of-controls order: elimination → substitution → isolation → engineering → administrative → PPE.
- 1Engineering: install and service the wastewater reclamation unit to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500 and AS/NZS 1547, and keep the reclaimed water strictly separate from the drinking water supply.
- 2Administrative: obtain the local authority's and reclaimed-water approval and requirements before the work, and install and operate the unit to those requirements and the reclaimed-water quality standard.
- 3Engineering: prevent cross-connection between the reclaimed and drinking water systems, clearly identify the reclaimed-water outlets and pipework, and provide backflow protection where any connection presents a hazard.
- 4Administrative: manage the biological hazard of the wastewater with hygiene controls, washing facilities and protective clothing, and prohibition of eating, drinking and smoking until decontaminated.
- 5Administrative: manage the treatment chemicals as hazardous chemicals to their safety data sheets, with skin, eye and respiratory protection and handling controls.
- 6Administrative: have the unit and controls connected and serviced electrically by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated, and where entry into a treatment tank is required apply the confined space controls including atmospheric testing for gases.
- 7Engineering: manage reclaimed-water stagnation, use mechanical aids for the unit and tanks, and confirm the treatment, reclaimed-water quality and separation on commissioning.
- 8Administrative: ensure the work is carried out and certified by an appropriately licensed plumber or drainer under the relevant state or territory plumbing licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies and a compliance certificate issued where required.
- 9Administrative: all workers must hold a valid White Card (General Construction Induction Training, CPCCWHS1001) where the work is construction work, with the plumbing, confined space and any other competencies required for the work.
- 10Administrative: conduct a pre-start toolbox talk covering the day's work, identified hazards, isolations, required PPE and emergency procedures, and record attendance in the consultation section.
- 11Administrative: consult workers and any health and safety representatives on the work and its risks, record the consultation, and keep this document available at the workplace.
- 12PPE: eye protection to AS/NZS 1337.1, hearing protection where required, gloves appropriate to the task, high-visibility clothing, and Class I or Class II safety footwear with protective toecap to AS/NZS 2210.3.
- 13Administrative: review and update this SWMS whenever the work scope changes, after any incident or near miss, when a worker or health and safety representative raises a concern, when new hazards are identified, or at minimum every 12 months.
Applicable Codes of Practice
The sanitary plumbing and drainage standard for the wastewater and reclaimed-water plumbing.
The on-site wastewater management standard where on-site treatment and reuse apply.
Atmospheric testing, ventilation, entry permit and rescue controls where the work involves entry into a confined space.
Electrical safety and isolation for the unit and controls, carried out by a licensed electrician.
Management of the chemicals used in the work, including safety data sheets and exposure controls.
High-Risk Construction Work triggered
Where installing or servicing a wastewater reclamation unit requires entry into a treatment tank that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere, the work is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS before the work commences.
This is licensed plumbing, drainage or service work that, in the circumstances described, is high risk construction work — in or near a confined space — so a SWMS must be prepared before the work commences, kept readily accessible, reviewed as necessary, and given to the principal contractor if one is appointed. The work is carried out to the relevant AS/NZS 3500 plumbing and drainage standards, AS/NZS 1547 for on-site wastewater, and the confined space and hazardous chemicals requirements, which are called up by the relevant legislation, with the confined-space, biological, chemical and environmental controls applied as relevant. A failure in this work can cause an atmospheric incident, chemical or biological exposure, or harm to the water supply or waterways, and breaches of the relevant legislation and the primary duty of care under the model WHS Act are actively enforced, with offence categories running from failure-to-comply through to reckless conduct, and the most serious breaches carrying imprisonment for individuals. Body-corporate maxima are substantial and indexed; the current maximum follows the prevailing schedule of the responsible regulator.
Who this is for
- →Licensed plumbers installing and servicing wastewater reclamation units.
- →Plumbing and water-treatment businesses providing reclamation and reuse systems.
- →Sustainability and water-reuse installers fitting reclamation units.
- →Sites and PCBUs commissioning wastewater reclamation and reuse.
- →PCBU safety managers and supervisors coordinating the biological, chemical, electrical and separation controls.
What you receive
- ✓Editable Microsoft Word document (.docx) fully compatible with Microsoft Word 2016 and newer, Google Docs, and LibreOffice Writer.
- ✓Title page with editable fields for PCBU name, ABN, site address, project name, principal contractor details, and document revision date.
- ✓Hazard register with the wastewater reclamation unit installation and service hazards — each with a documented consequence, inherent risk rating on a 5x5 likelihood-consequence matrix, hierarchy-of-control measures, and residual risk rating.
- ✓Wastewater reclamation prompts referencing AS/NZS 3500 and AS/NZS 1547 and the reclaimed-water requirements, a cross-connection-prevention and reuse-identification section, a treatment-chemical and biological-hazard section, and an electrical and confined-space record.
- ✓Licensing, competency and permit prompts for the relevant plumbing, confined space and hazardous chemicals work, and a respiratory protection selection and fit-test record per AS/NZS 1715 where relevant.
- ✓Worker consultation record per the model WHS Act consultation duty and a worker sign-on register (blank, expandable).
- ✓Applicable legislation and Codes of Practice schedule pre-populated for the model WHS jurisdiction with a state-variance reference table covering the harmonised states, plus Victoria.
- ✓Emergency procedure template and a revision log.
Worked example
A licensed plumber is engaged to install and commission a wastewater reclamation unit that treats wastewater for non-potable reuse on a commercial site. The local authority's and reclaimed-water approval and requirements are obtained before the work, and the unit installed to the relevant parts of AS/NZS 3500 and AS/NZS 1547 and the reclaimed-water quality standard. The reclaimed water is kept strictly separate from the drinking water supply, cross-connection prevented, the reclaimed-water outlets and pipework clearly identified, and backflow protection provided where any connection presents a hazard. The biological hazard of the wastewater is managed with hygiene controls, washing facilities and protective clothing, and the treatment chemicals managed as hazardous chemicals with skin, eye and respiratory protection. The unit and controls are connected electrically by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated, and where entry into a treatment tank is required the confined space controls apply with atmospheric testing for gases. Reclaimed-water stagnation is managed. The treatment, reclaimed-water quality and separation are confirmed on commissioning, and the records retained.
Related legislation
- Model Work Health and Safety Act — primary duty of care; the duty to consult workers; the reckless-conduct offence; and notifiable-incident provisions, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- Model Work Health and Safety Regulations — Section 291 high risk construction work and the SWMS preparation and review duties, and the confined space and hazardous chemicals provisions where applicable, as enacted in each jurisdiction.
- The relevant plumbing and drainage standards AS/NZS 3500 (Parts 0–5), AS/NZS 1547 for on-site wastewater, AS/NZS 4233 for high-pressure water jetting, and the hazardous chemicals and environmental requirements, are called up by the relevant legislation, together with the relevant network utility and asset owner requirements.
- Plumbing and drainage work is licensed under each state and territory's plumbing licensing scheme, with the relevant competencies for confined space and chemical work, and compliance certification required for notifiable work; electrical work is carried out by a licensed electrician.
- Victoria operates under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017, with the high risk construction work, confined space and hazardous chemicals provisions applying in place of the model instruments.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wastewater reclamation unit?
A wastewater reclamation unit is a package treatment system that treats wastewater to a standard suitable for reuse, used on sites that recycle wastewater for non-potable purposes such as irrigation and toilet flushing. It is installed and serviced to the plumbing and on-site wastewater standards and the reclaimed-water requirements, with the reclaimed water kept strictly separate from the drinking water supply.
Why must reclaimed water be kept separate from drinking water?
Reclaimed water is treated wastewater for non-potable reuse and must never enter the drinking water supply, so the reclaimed and drinking water systems are kept strictly separate, cross-connection prevented, and the reclaimed-water outlets and pipework clearly identified. Keeping the systems separate protects the drinking water supply from contamination.
What chemical hazards apply?
The treatment chemicals used in the reclamation unit can present skin, eye and respiratory exposure, so they are managed as hazardous chemicals to their safety data sheets with appropriate protection and handling controls. The chemicals are managed alongside the biological hazard of the wastewater and the other controls.
Does servicing involve confined space entry?
It can, where installing or servicing the unit requires entry into a treatment tank that may have a contaminated or flammable atmosphere from the wastewater treatment. In those cases the confined space entry permit, atmospheric testing for gases, ventilation, standby and rescue controls apply, and the work is high risk construction work requiring a SWMS.
Who connects the unit electrically?
The unit and its controls are connected and serviced electrically by a licensed electrician with the supply isolated, because it is electrical work. The plumber installs and services the treatment and plumbing, and the electrical connection is carried out by the appropriate licensed electrical practitioner with the supply isolated.