2. Definitions and Interpretations

Except when the context indicates otherwise the provisions of the Matamata-Piako District Council Introductory Bylaw 2008 shall apply to this Bylaw.

For the purposes of this Bylaw, unless inconsistent with the context, the following definitions and interpretations shall apply:

Acceptable Discharge means Wastewater with physical and chemical Characteristics which comply with the requirements of the Council as scheduled in the Matamata-Piako District Council Trade Waste Bylaw 2011.

Access Point is a place where access may be made to a public or private sewer for inspection (including sampling or measurement), cleaning or maintenance. The location of the Access Point Shall be in accordance with the New Zealand Building Code.

Act means the Local Government Act 1974 and/or the Local Government Act 2002.

Approval means approved in writing by the Council, either by resolution of the Council or by an officer or the Council authorised for that purpose.

Buried Services means all Public and Private Sewers, rising mains, trunk sewers and other underground utilities under the responsibility of the Council.

Certificate of Title means a certificate registering the freehold ownership of land available to any Owner(s) under the Land Transfer Act 1952.

Characteristic means any of the physical or chemical Characteristics of a trade waste referred to in the Matamata-Piako District Council Trade Waste Bylaw 2011 or subsequent amendments.

Customer means a person who either discharges, or has obtained a consent to discharge or direct the manner of discharge of Wastewater from any Premises to the Public Sewer of the Council.

Disconnection means the physical cutting and sealing of any of the Council’s water services, utilities, or Public Sewers for use by any Person.

Domestic Wastewater means either that Wastewater which is discharged from Premises used solely for Residential activities, or wastes of the same Character discharged from other Premises, provided that the Characteristics of the Wastewater are an Acceptable Discharge. Such activities shall include the draining of domestic swimming and spa pools subject to clause 6.4.

Encumbrance instrument means the same as in section 101 of the Land Transfer Act 1952.

Foul water means the discharge from:

1. any sanitary fixtures (any fixture which is intended to be used for sanitation – the term used to describe activities of washing and/or excretion carried out in a manner or condition such that the effect on health is minimised, with regard to dirt and infection); or
2. any sanitary appliance (an appliance which is intended to be used for sanitation which is not a sanitary fixture – included are machines for washing dishes and clothes).

Hazardous materials or Substances means hazardous substances as defined by the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996.

Infiltration means water entering a public or private sewer from groundwater through defects such as poor joints, and cracks in pipes or manholes, including inflow or ingress from non-complying connections or other construction faults.

Level of Service means the measurable performance standards on which the Council undertakes to receive Wastewater from its Customers.

On-site Wastewater Disposal System means any Private Wastewater Disposal System located on land or Premises for the reception, disintegration and treatment of Wastewater or solid matter from that land or Premises. A Wastewater Disposal System may include a Septic Tank or a Treatment Plant and its associated soakage field.

Point of Discharge means the boundary between the Public Sewer and a Private Sewer and may include the point of connection.

Premises means either:

1. a property or allotment which is held under a separate Certificate of Title or for which a separate Certificate of Title may be issued and in respect to which a building consent has been or may be issued; or
2. a building that has been defined as an individual unit by a cross-lease, unit title or company lease and for which a Certificate of Title is available; or
3. land held in public ownership (e.g. Reserve) for a particular purpose;
4. individual units in buildings which are separately leased or separately occupied.

Private Sewer means that section of sewer through which Wastewater is conveyed between the Customer's Premises and the point of discharge. This section of sewer is owned and maintained by the Customer or group of Customers.

Prohibited Characteristics means a Wastewater which shall not be discharged into the public sewer, as scheduled in the Matamata-Piako District Council Trade Waste Bylaw 2011.

Public Sewer means the sewer and lateral connections that carry away waste water from the point of discharge. The public sewer is owned and maintained by the Council.

Rising Main means a sewer through which wastewater is pumped.

Septic Tank means any fixed receptacle installed outside of a building for the collection and breakdown by biological or chemical processes of the solid matter in wastewater, by methods which do not involve mechanical processes.

Sewage means foul water and may include trade wastes.

Sewerage System means the collection, treatment and disposal of Sewage and Trade Wastes, including all sewers, pumping stations, storage tanks, Sewage treatment plants, outfalls, and other related structures operated by the Council and used for the reception, treatment and disposal of Wastewater and Trade Waste.

Stormwater means all surface water run-off resulting from precipitation.

Trade Premises means:

1. any Premises used or intended to be used for any industrial or trade purpose; or
2. any Premises used or intended to be used for the storage, transfer, treatment, or disposal of waste materials or for other waste management purposes, or used for composting organic materials; or
3. any other Premises from which a contaminant is discharged in connection with any industrial or trade process;
4. any other Premises discharging other than domestic sewage.
5. and includes any land or Premises wholly or mainly used for agricultural or horticultural purposes.

Trade Waste means any liquid, with or without matter in suspension or solution, that is or may be discharged from a trade Premises in the course of any trade or industrial process or operation, or in the course of any activity or operation of a like nature, but does not include condensing water, stormwater or domestic wastewater. Condensing or cooling water, and stormwater which cannot practically be separated from Wastewater may be included subjected to specific Approval.

Treatment Plant means any plant or equipment not being a Septic Tank used for the breakdown of Wastewater using mechanical and/or hydraulic methods.

Trunk Sewer means any sewer, generally greater than 150 millimetres in diameter, which conveys Sewage outside the immediate vicinity of a Premises and which forms part of the sewerage network.

Wastewater means water or other liquid, including waste matter in solution or suspension, discharged from a Premises.

Wastewater Authority means the Council including its Authorised Agents, responsible for the collection, treatment and disposal of Trade waste and Wastewater.