As with urban schemes Council is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the system up to and including the service connection assembly and meter, which is normally located mostly outside or sometimes inside the property boundary. All pipework, fittings, tanks, pressure systems etc installed beyond this point are the responsibility of the property owner.

The flow control valve installed with the meter assembly will normally guarantee a continuous flow rate. If required Council officers will carry out testing at the connection point to ensure that each service receives its flow, continuously, the size of the valve may be adjusted at Council’s discretion, to ensure that this is achieved.

With the exception of the stopcock (on the customer side after the meter), which may be turned on or off as required, it is an offence to interfere in any way with any other fittings or pipework installed at the connection point.

All property owners are required to provide and maintain their own on-site storage facilities and all pipework between the connection point and storage tank. Property owners are also responsible for the provision and maintenance of any internal pressure system and the protection of the connection point itself.

All storage tanks connected to the reticulated water supply must be provided with an air gap on the storage inlet (ie: there must be a gap between the top water level and the inlet pipe) or a backflow prevention device to avoid contamination. The installation of a float control valve on the tank inlet would normally ensure that an air gap is provided.

The delivery line between the connection point and the storage tank should be direct to avoid any possibility of backflow. Where in the Council’s opinion, such a possibility exists, a backflow prevention device may be fitted to the on-customer side of the connection point, at the property owners’ expense. Under no circumstances shall any internal pressure system be connected to the delivery line between the connection point and the storage facility inlet.

The size of the on-site storage facility will depend on personal usage patterns, however a capacity in the order of 45,000 litres (10,000 gallons) would normally be adequate.

Should any storage facilities exist and be less than 45,000 litres, it is suggested that such facilities be retained and upgraded only if they are not sufficient to cater for peak demands (ie: if the tank regularly runs dry or nearly dry).

The service line between the connection point and the storage tanks should be equivalent to class 12 polyethylene, as quite high pressures may be experienced if the line is isolated. The size of the service is up to the individual property owner, however, 25mm or 32mm O.D. lines are quite common and normally quite adequate for this type of scheme.

Where possible, Council officers will liaise with property owners and attempt to provide water connections at nominated locations. As a general rule, where properties are large (eg greater than 5 Ha) and where the main is on the same side of the road as the property, Council will install the service at any (reasonable) nominated point.

Where the main is on the opposite side of the road it may be necessary to cross the road at one of the side boundaries. In any event, property owners are encouraged to sketch the desired location of their service connection point on the back of the water application form to permit a preliminary inspection.

The following charges apply to all new participants within the defined scheme area:

1. Scheme headworks charge
2. Water connection ‘at actual cost’ (minimum fee applies)
3. Annual water charge (depending on size of the service installed).

Details on the defined scheme area and the above charges are available on request.