Product Overview

Summary: This Greywater Recycling System Safe Operating Procedure provides clear, step-by-step guidance for safely collecting, treating and reusing greywater in Australian workplaces and facilities. It helps organisations reduce potable water consumption while managing health, environmental and system integrity risks in line with WHS and public health requirements.

Greywater recycling systems are increasingly used across commercial buildings, campuses, industrial sites and community facilities to reduce potable water use and support sustainability goals. However, poorly managed systems can create significant health, safety and environmental risks, including exposure to pathogens, chemical imbalances, odours, system overflows and cross-contamination with drinking water supplies. This Safe Operating Procedure sets out a practical, defensible framework for planning, operating, monitoring and maintaining greywater recycling systems in a way that is safe for workers, building occupants and the environment.

The SOP details the full lifecycle of system operation—from source identification and collection, through screening, treatment and storage, to controlled reuse and disposal. It clarifies roles and responsibilities, safe work methods, isolation and lock-out requirements, sampling and testing regimes, and incident response. By implementing this procedure, organisations can demonstrate due diligence under Australian WHS and public health legislation, support compliance with plumbing and environmental requirements, and provide consistent training material for operators and contractors. The result is a reliable, efficient greywater system that delivers water savings without compromising safety or compliance.

Key Benefits

• Ensure safe operation of greywater systems by controlling exposure to biological, chemical and physical hazards.
• Reduce potable water consumption and water bills while maintaining compliance with Australian public health and plumbing requirements.
• Standardise operating, inspection and maintenance practices across sites and teams to minimise downtime and system failures.
• Demonstrate due diligence under WHS legislation and environmental obligations through a documented, auditable procedure.
• Support effective training and onboarding of maintenance staff, contractors and operators with clear, step-by-step instructions.

Who is this for?

• Facility Managers
• Maintenance Supervisors
• Environmental and Sustainability Managers
• WHS Managers and Advisors
• Operations Managers
• Plant Operators
• Property Managers
• Local Government Asset Managers
• Education and Campus Services Managers
• Aged Care and Healthcare Facility Managers

Hazards Addressed

• Exposure to biological contaminants and pathogens in untreated or partially treated greywater
• Aerosol generation during pumping, spraying or high-pressure cleaning associated with the system
• Chemical exposure from disinfectants, pH adjusters and other treatment chemicals
• Confined space risks in tanks, pits, sumps and underground chambers
• Slips, trips and falls around wet areas, access hatches and treatment plant platforms
• Electrical hazards associated with pumps, control panels and automated dosing equipment
• Cross-connection and backflow risks between greywater and potable water supplies
• Manual handling injuries when lifting filters, covers, pumps and chemical containers
• Environmental contamination from leaks, overflows or uncontrolled discharge of untreated greywater
• Odour and gas build-up (e.g. hydrogen sulphide) in poorly ventilated plant rooms or tanks

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and System Overview
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Approvals
• 5.0 System Description and Process Flow Diagram
• 6.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Controls
• 7.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 8.0 Pre-Start Checks and System Readiness
• 9.0 Normal Operating Procedure – Collection, Treatment and Distribution
• 10.0 Monitoring, Sampling and Water Quality Testing
• 11.0 Chemical Handling, Storage and Dosing Procedures
• 12.0 Isolation, Lock-out/Tag-out and De-energisation
• 13.0 Inspection, Cleaning and Preventive Maintenance
• 14.0 Managing Overflows, Leaks and System Alarms
• 15.0 Confined Space and Restricted Access Requirements (if applicable)
• 16.0 Emergency Response and Incident Management
• 17.0 Environmental Protection and Discharge Controls
• 18.0 Training, Induction and Competency Assessment
• 19.0 Recordkeeping, Reporting and Audit Trail
• 20.0 Review, Continuous Improvement and Document Control

Legislation & References

• Model Work Health and Safety Act and Regulations (as implemented in each state and territory)
• Safe Work Australia – How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks: Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace: Code of Practice
• AS/NZS 3500 Plumbing and drainage series (including provisions for non-drinking water systems and backflow prevention)
• AS/NZS 4020: Testing of products for use in contact with drinking water (for interface and backflow protection components)
• AS/NZS 3500.1: Plumbing and drainage – Water services (cross-connection and backflow requirements)
• AS/NZS 3000: Electrical installations (Wiring Rules) for associated electrical equipment
• AS/NZS 2243.3: Safety in laboratories – Microbiological safety and containment (as guidance for handling biological risks)
• Relevant state/territory Public Health Acts and regulations relating to recycled water and on-site wastewater systems
• Local council and water authority recycled water / on-site wastewater guidelines (jurisdiction-specific)