Sydney Water's rules for businesses
Trade wastewater needs approval
Restaurants, takeaway food outlets, childcare centres, mechanical workshops, car washes and laundromats are among Sydney Water's commercial trade wastewater customers. Unless a process is a low-risk deemed process, the business needs formal approval to discharge, applied for through Sydney Water Tap in and approved by the property owner or managing agent. Assessment usually takes less than 21 days.
Grease traps and listed equipment
Most commercial customers must install and maintain grease traps or other pre-treatment, and only equipment listed for Sydney Water's area may be used. In-sink food waste disposal units and garbage grinders aren't allowed on business premises.
Backflow devices, tested every year
The property owner must have the right backflow prevention device fitted and maintained. An accredited backflow plumber assesses the site's hazard rating, tests medium and high hazard devices when installed and every year after, and lodges the results within 2 days.
No rating means high hazard
If a site's hazard rating is unknown or never assessed, Sydney Water treats it as high hazard. Its 20 mm and 25 mm meters have a built-in device suited to low hazard connections only.
What happens if it's skipped
Sydney Water keeps a register of testable backflow devices and sends a reminder each year. If an owner ignores its backflow requirements, it may test the device and charge for it, restrict the water supply or disconnect the site.
Discharging trade wastewater without approval can lead it to disconnect the trade waste service and restrict or cut off water. Even a deemed process still has to meet the pre-treatment and backflow rules. When a business closes, cancelling its approval means physically disconnecting the trade wastewater connection, with a Certificate of Compliance from the plumber.
Licences on business jobs
NSW requires a licence or certificate for plumbing, draining and gasfitting whatever the job costs, and the rule doesn't change for commercial or industrial sites. Ads for the work must show the licensee's name and licence number, and the NSW Public Register lets you confirm categories, expiry and any warnings before you sign a contract.
Gas work in a commercial kitchen ends with a certificate of compliance from the gasfitter, submitted to Building Commission NSW within 5 business days. Plumbing and drainage jobs end with a Certificate of Compliance, and the plumber must give a copy to whoever arranged the work.
Childcare, schools and aged care
Where hot water serves children in an early childhood centre or school, aged care residents, health care patients or people with a disability, the national limit at the outlet is 45°C rather than 50°C. Only a thermostatic mixing valve or a thermostatically controlled tap is allowed to deliver it. Our national commercial page explains more.
Questions for a Sydney commercial plumber
- Are you, or is someone in your business, an accredited backflow plumber?
- Is this grease trap on Sydney Water's list for our area?
- Is our process a deemed process, or do we need formal trade wastewater approval?
- Who lodges the backflow test results, and can we have a copy of the report?
- Does your NSW licence cover every category this job needs, including gasfitting?
What we would do
Before fitting out or taking over a site, get two answers: does our activity need trade wastewater approval, and what backflow hazard rating will the site carry? Sort both before you open, because the pre-treatment has to be listed equipment and the device has to be tested. Then put the yearly backflow test in the calendar, and keep every certificate and test report in one place for the landlord and Sydney Water.