Who pumps out my septic tank in Stirling?

If you're on Adelaide Hills Council's CWMS, Council pumps the sludge out at regular intervals under its service charter. You need to uncover the access cover when Council or its contractor asks.

There's a lid and a pump unit in my garden. What is it?

It may be a pressure sewer, which SA Water uses in parts of Stirling. Wastewater collects in a small tank and a pump sends it to SA Water's main. Ask SA Water before anyone works on it.

Plumbers in Stirling, SA: septic, pressure sewers and frost

Plumbers in Stirling Hills drains differ.

Stirling homes don't all drain the same way. Some send wastewater through a septic tank to Adelaide Hills Council's community wastewater system, and some pump it into an SA Water pressure sewer. Find out which you have, then we'll match you with a licence-checked plumber who specialises in that setup.

Stirling facts

Council CWMS customers

Adelaide Hills Council provides Community Wastewater Management System (CWMS) services to customers in Stirling, as well as Birdwood, Kersbrook, Mount Torrens, Charleston, Verdun and Woodside.

Pressure sewers in parts

SA Water says pressure sewers are already used in parts of Crafers, Stirling, Aldgate and Bridgewater, where the lie of the land suits them. Each has a small underground tank and pump on the property.

Almost all houses

At the 2021 Census, 94.1% of occupied homes in Stirling were separate houses. 46.2% were owned outright and only 9.3% rented. The median age was 48.

South Ward

Stirling is in Adelaide Hills Council's South Ward, with Aldgate, Crafers, Heathfield and Mylor.

On Council's CWMS

Under Council's service charter, it pumps the sludge out of customers' septic tanks at regular intervals. When asked, you uncover the tank's access cover and let the contractor in.

You must not send stormwater into Council's sewerage system, and the cost of maintaining the connection on your property is yours. If a drain on your side blocks or cracks, that's a plumber's job. Our septic systems page covers what they check.

A tank and pump in the garden

On a pressure sewer, used water runs from the house into a small tank, and a pump pushes it into SA Water's main. SA Water's fact sheet warns that wet wipes, even ones labelled flushable, can damage these units, along with coffee grounds, cat litter and cooking oil.

If you think you have one, ask SA Water who maintains which part on your block before booking any work near it.

Cold nights in the Hills

The Bureau's Mount Lofty station, at 685 m, averages 4.6 days a year at 2°C or colder, and its July nights average a low of 5.0°C. Lag exposed pipes and outdoor taps. If one bursts, turn off the water at the meter and see burst pipes in Adelaide.

What we would do

Walk the yard and find what you have: a septic tank lid, a pressure sewer lid near the house, or neither. That tells you whether to ring Adelaide Hills Council, SA Water or a plumber first. Keep the tank lid uncovered, keep wipes out of the toilet, and lag the pipes before winter.