In your community

Backlog Costs

The Sewerage Backlog Program is primarily funded by Yarra Valley Water. However, there are some costs which are the responsibility of each property owner in Backlog areas.

Connection Costs

Sewerage Backlog Contribution ($500)

Each property in a backlog area is required to contribute $500 towards the cost of bringing sewerage infrastructure to their area. This charge is charged to ALL properties regardless of whether they connect to the sewerage system or not.

This contribution is payable once the sewerage system is declared available. Instead of sending each property a $500 invoice, Yarra Valley Water instead charges a $25 quarterly installment to the property owner's water bill over a period of five years.

IMPORTANT: It is Yarra Valley Water's current policy to waive this $500 contribution for all properties which connect to the sewerage system within the first 12 months it is available. A letter is sent to each property when sewer is declared available detailing how residents can have this fee waived. Any $25 installments already charged are then used as credits on future water bills.

Application Fees

Once sewer is available, the property owner engages a plumber who will need to approach a Yarra Valley Water EasyAccess plumbing store to apply to connect to the sewerage system and to retrieve a Property Sewerage Plan. There are some small application charges associated with this; often they will be included in the plumber's quote.

IMPORTANT: It is Yarra Valley Water's current policy to waive the Plumbing Connection Application Fee and provide a free Property Sewerage Plan to properties which apply to connect within the first 12 months sewer is available. A letter is sent to each property that includes a voucher which their plumber can use to have the costs waived at the plumbing outlet.

To find out the current costs of applying for a sewerage connection and Property Sewerage Plan (they are two separate charges) please contact a local EasyAccess plumbing store. A list of these outlets can be found here.

Plumbing Costs

When a property connects to the sewerage system, new plumbing works are usually required to move the sanitary drain from the existing wastewater treatment unit to the new sewerage connection point. These works are at the cost of the property owner.

Every property is different, and as such it is difficult for Yarra Valley Water to provide an indicative cost for these works. Yarra Valley Water recommends property owners contact a licenced plumber to advise what works are required and provide a quote. Where possible Yarra Valley Water suggests property owners request quotes from more than one plumber to help ensure they are getting value for money.

Any decommissioning of existing septic tanks and wastewater treatment systems is also the responsibility of the property owner.