Self Monitoring and Notifications

Approval holders may be required to ensure that the quality of the trade waste effluent discharged from the nominated premises is self-monitored.

Self-monitoring programs

If the trade waste approval holder’s risk classification requires monitoring at a frequency greater than Queensland Urban Utilities’ routine monitoring frequency, self-monitoring may be required. Trade waste self-monitoring requirements will be detailed in trade waste approval conditions. The approval holder is required to meet all costs of self-monitoring.

Initial compliance monitoring

Approval holders that are discharging for the first time, or who have significantly upgraded or altered their trade waste pretreatment system may be required to ensure sampling and analysis of trade waste effluent discharged from the premises is carried out a minimum of once per fortnight for a minimum period of twelve (12) weeks after first introduction of trade waste from the premises into Queensland Urban Utilities’ sewerage system (initial compliance monitoring). Trade waste monitoring requirements will be detailed in trade waste approval conditions.

Where an initial compliance monitoring program has been requested by Queensland Urban Utilities, an initial compliance report must be sent to Queensland Urban Utilities within 16 weeks of the first discharge of trade waste. The initial compliance report must contain the following information:

a record of the time, date and name of the sampler for all samples collected
a record of the concentration of the analysed contaminants for all sampling events within the 12 week monitoring period
a record of all water meter and/or trade waste effluent flowmeter readings at time of collection of all grab samples or, for composite samples, at time of sample commencement and sample finishing
a calculation of the sampling period mass load for all analysed contaminants for all composite samples
a statement of compliance or non-compliance with trade waste approval conditions with associated comments

Within 90 days following the trade waste approval issue date, the trade waste discharge must comply with applicable trade waste approval conditions.

Periodic compliance monitoring and reporting

Approval holders undertaking self-monitoring are required to ensure that -

Sampling and analysis of trade waste effluent discharged from the premises is conducted in accordance with trade waste approval conditions; and
Periodic monitoring reports are forwarded to Queensland Urban Utilities within 7 days of receipt (by the approval holder) of the finalised laboratory results, and should include the following information:
- a record of the time and date and concentration of the analysed contaminants for all sampling events conducted since the previous Periodic Compliance Report
- a record of all water meter and/or trade waste effluent flow meter readings at time of collection of all grab samples; or, for composite samples, at time of sampling commencement and sampling finishing
- a calculation of the sampling period mass load for all analysed contaminants for all composite samples
- a statement of compliance or non-compliance with this trade waste approval with associated comments.

Exclusion of self-monitoring data

Trade waste self-monitoring data shall be included in calculation of trade waste quality charges for any trade waste quality assessment period, but specific monitoring data may be excluded at the request of the approval holder at the discretion of Queensland Urban Utilities. Justification for the exclusion of specific self-monitoring data will be required (and may include evidence of a process aberration at the time of sampling). Where excluded self-monitoring data indicates a short term over-strength discharge, costs may be calculated and billed as a special disposal.

Sampling and analytical standards

Trade waste effluent sampling must be representative of the trade waste effluent from the normal on-site daily operations and all trade waste samples are to be taken in accordance with the DERM (2009) Monitoring and Sampling Manual 2009, Version 2. ISBN 978-0-9806986-1-9 (available at www.derm.qld.gov.au).

Samples are to be taken as 24 hour flow-weighted composites unless otherwise stated in the specific conditions of the relevant trade waste approval.

Notification of Breaches

Notice of breaches or potential breaches of trade waste approval conditions must be given—
by telephone (as soon as practically possible); and where requested in writing, within 7 days of the date of the breach or potential breach, setting out:

the nature of the breach or potential breach
an explanation of the cause of the breach or potential breach
trade waste effluent analysis results and/or flow measurements
actions that have been taken to control the non-compliant discharge; and
what action is proposed to prevent its recurrence.

A written notice given by the trade waste approval holder to Queensland Urban Utilities must be addressed to ‘Queensland Urban Utilities’ and must be signed by the trade waste approval holder or their duly authorised agent or representative.

The telephone number for providing notice of breaches or potential breaches is:
For Brisbane
07 3407 8414 (Brisbane Control Room)

For Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Somerset or Scenic Rim
07 3810 7998 (Ipswich Control Room)

The notice address for Queensland Urban Utilities is:
Queensland Urban Utilities
(Attention: Trade Waste Coordinator)
Source Control Branch
GPO Box 2765
BRISBANE QLD 4001