Almost 200 households in Lilydale now have the option to move from septic tanks to a reticulated sewerage network, following the completion of works by Yarra Valley Water.
The project forms part of the utility’s Community Sewerage Program, which is progressively extending piped sewerage to properties across Melbourne’s outer northern and eastern suburbs. The new system replaces individual septic tanks with a centralised network designed to pump and transport wastewater to treatment facilities, ensuring greater reliability and environmental protection.
Bridie Fennessy, Yarra Valley Water’s General Manager Asset Services, said the benefits are clear for both households and waterways. “Moving properties off septic tanks and onto a sewerage system is a win-win,” she said. “Managing septic tanks can often be a hassle. When tanks are too small or aren’t maintained, they can create unpleasant smells and can even leak waste onto other properties or into waterways.”
The newly constructed sewerage infrastructure includes pumping assets and connection points at each property boundary. These installations allow households to connect directly into the broader sewerage network, eliminating the need for onsite storage and reducing the risk of contamination from system failures.
Fennessy said the change provides residents with a more dependable solution. “Connecting to sewerage is more convenient for property owners and better for the environment. While people still need to be mindful of what goes down the drain and maintain their household plumbing, sewerage offers a far cleaner and more reliable alternative to managing an aging septic system,” she said.
The project was delivered at no cost to households for the main works, with residents only required to fund the final connection from their property to the new sewerage point.
Yarra Ranges Council Deputy Mayor Richard Higgins said the program aligns with local environmental goals. “The new sewerage network in Lilydale helps us meet this commitment; it creates an environmentally friendly way of transporting and disposing of wastewater from households in Lilydale, and makes life easier for residents switching from septic,” he said.
