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Trade Wastewater and the Motor Vehicle Industry

Everyday, motor vehicle businesses produce harmful wastewater pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons, flammable substances, metals from engine parts and batteries, chlorinated solvents, phenols and engine grit.

These substances have the potential to affect the health of people working in the sewerage system, damage the pipes that transport wastewater and the sewage treatment plants. These substances reduce Sydney Water's ability to recycle wastewater and biosolids, and have the potential to cause explosions.

Sydney Water has developed the Managing trade wastewater in the motor vehicle industry (PDF - 1371KB) booklet to help motor vehicle businesses to obtain a trade waste permit and effectively dispose of trade wastewater.

For tips on cleaner production techniques to minimise or eliminate ongoing wastewater treatment costs, and information on charges see the following booklet and fact sheets:

• Pre-treatment of trade wastewater from commercial customers (PDF - 2.2MB)
• Trade waste fees and charges commercial customers in the motor vehicle industry (PDF - 48KB)
• Authorised pre-treatment for use in the motor vehicle industry (PDF - 282KB)
• Auto recyclers (PDF - 313KB)
• Engine reconditioners (PDF - 246KB)
• Mechanical workshops (PDF - 224KB)
• Panel beaters and smash repairers (PDF - 196KB)
• Radiator repairers (PDF - 204KB)
• Service stations forecourts (PDF - 144KB)