Priority Sewerage Program

Sydney Water's Priority Sewerage Program (PSP) provides improved wastewater services to villages in environmentally sensitive areas. These areas are generally near drinking water catchments, rivers, beaches or national parks.

The program can provide many important environmental and social benefits. Statistics from the NSW Government's Septic Safe program show that, on average, about 70% of existing on-site systems are failing to meet community expectations for public health protection and environmental standards. The PSP helps protect public health and the environment by eliminating these failing systems.

Sydney Water and the NSW Government subsidise the cost of the program, including the major pipes, pumping stations and treatment plants. Individual property owners are responsible for the cost of connecting their home or business to the system, so it is important that you understand how your wastewater connection works.

Program objectives

The PSP aims to:

• reduce risks to public health
• provide for environmental improvement
• improve local amenity
• service the identified growth in villages under current zonings
• provide reliable wastewater services to villages in the most cost-effective manner.

Key projects

The program consists of:

• completed projects
• projects under construction and
• other projects