A PROPOSAL for the installation of 43 individual sewage treatment systems in a proposed new housing development presents a serious threat to the groundwater in the area, according to a local resident.
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Fred Janssen and his wife, Rina, moved to Oberon in 2012. Their Titania Estate block is 4.5 hectares, located close to the proposed subdivision, which is currently before Oberon Council as a development application.
The Janssens have a 40m-deep bore, which is not performing optimally due to low groundwater levels.
Because of lack of rain over the past nine months, the water levels in their tanks are coming down gradually.
With no substantial rain expected in the near future, they would have to rely more and more on their existing bore for water supply replenishment, Mr Janssen said.
“I have read in the Oberon Review that lots in the proposed subdivision of 175 Titania Road would have no town water supply and will not be connected to the Oberon sewerage system,” he said.
“In other words, the new owners will have to rely on rain water harvesting off their roofs and will have to install a septic system.”
Mr Janssen’s main concern is the concentration of 43 small lots needing an individual sewage treatment system on each block.
He is worried that a large number of individual sewage systems in such a small area would create an unacceptable risk of system failures which would contaminate the groundwater over time.
“Despite Oberon Council overseeing regular six-monthly inspections of the septic systems, a serious threat exists that the effluent run-off would contaminate the groundwater of the whole area, keeping in mind that the development is on a rather steep hill sloping towards the Titania Road,” he said.
“My internet research shows that contamination of the groundwater in NSW is a common problem.”
As an alternative, Mr Janssen suggested that newly developed technology would mean septic systems could be installed "to serve each release of lots, or ideally one large system that could service the whole development”.
Mr Janssen said a bonus is that water can be recycled from such a system for irrigating gardens.
The benefits would include room for a larger garden and less “water stress" on tank water, he said.
It would also ensure greater protection for the groundwater for the existing occupants of the Titania Estate and surrounding properties, who have to rely on their bores more and more for quality water.
The Office of Water, an entity within the NSW Department of Primary Industries, has already expressed concern about water and sewage issues with the proposed development.
