If you have received a letter about your property, this page explains what the change means, what you will initially pay and how we will support you through the inspection and approval process.

What is changing?

• Charges begin on 1 December 2026. Properties covered by the commencement letter will initially be charged the Category 1 annual fee of $123.24, the lowest annual trade waste fee.
• You will only pay for part of the first financial year. The initial fee covers 1 December 2026 to 30 June 2027 and will be included across quarterly Essential Water bills according to the days in each billing period.
• We will arrange an inspection. This will help us confirm the discharge category, approval requirements and any treatment equipment needed.
• We will explain any changes to your charges. If a different category or usage charge applies after assessment, we will contact you before changing the annual fee or introducing applicable usage charges.
• There is time to make required property changes. If changes are needed, the commencement arrangements allow until 1 July 2027 to complete them.

What do I need to do now?

If you’re unsure whether your property meets the trade waste requirements, contact us so we can explain what applies. Otherwise, our representative will contact you to arrange an inspection.

If you believe your property does not discharge trade waste, or the business has closed or changed, please let us know so we can review our records.

Call us on 1800441888 or email letschat@essentialwater.com.au.

Frequently asked questions

Why have I received notification about Trade Waste fees and charges in the mail?
We are contacting property owners to explain the new fees and arrange an assessment of the business activities and existing trade waste arrangements. If you have received correspondence from Essential Water about Trade Waste fees, our records indicate that a business at your property is, or may be, discharging liquid trade waste into the wastewater system.

Why are charges being introduced now?
We are required to manage liquid trade waste but have not previously charged businesses for this service. The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) pricing determination provides for trade waste charges from 1 July 2026.

Essential Water will begin applying the new charging arrangements from 1 December 2026. The charges contribute to the cost of inspecting, monitoring, treating and managing trade waste, bringing Broken Hill into line with the way trade waste is managed by other NSW water utilities.

How much will I initially pay?
For properties covered by the commencement letter, the initial annual fee is $123.24. Because charging starts part-way through the financial year, you will only pay for 1 December 2026 to 30 June 2027. This part-year amount will be spread across your quarterly bills according to the number of days in each billing period.

The initial Category 1 fee applies while we inspect and assess the business at your property. It does not mean your business has been permanently classified as Category 1.

Will I have to pay more after the inspection?
Your ongoing charges depend on the trade waste category that applies to the business and, in some cases, the amount or characteristics of the waste discharged. If our assessment identifies a different category or an applicable usage charge, we will contact you before changing the annual fee or introducing usage charges.

Application fees, re-inspection fees and other charges may also apply under the relevant schedule. View the Schedule of Water and Sewerage Charges or contact us to discuss your property.

Who is responsible for paying the charges?
The property owner is responsible for paying Essential Water’s trade waste fees and charges. If the property is leased, any arrangement to recover these costs from the tenant is between the owner and tenant.

Are trade waste fees included in my usual sewerage charges?
No. Trade waste fees are additional to the usual non-residential sewerage charges. They contribute to the extra treatment, monitoring and inspection needed to manage wastewater from business activities.

How is my trade waste category decided?
We assess the business activities, the type and amount of wastewater discharged, and the treatment equipment and controls needed.

Category 1 generally covers discharges requiring no or minimal pre-treatment. Category 1A covers specified activities requiring prescribed pre-treatment. Category 2 covers discharges requiring prescribed treatment, including activities that generate oily or greasy wastewater. Category 3 covers large or industrial discharges. The business name or type alone does not determine the category.

We will confirm the category after assessing the actual discharge.

What happens during the inspection?
We will look at how the business uses water, what wastewater it produces, where that wastewater goes and whether suitable treatment equipment is in place. This may include checking equipment such as grease arrestors, oil separators or screens.

After the inspection, we will explain the outcome, the approval and charging category, and any action you need to take. If the existing arrangements meet the requirements, we will ask you to enter into a trade waste agreement.

What if I need to install or upgrade equipment?
We will explain the changes needed after assessing the property. Under the commencement arrangements, you will have until 1 July 2027 to complete required changes. This transition period gives property owners and businesses time to put appropriate arrangements in place. If you are concerned about meeting the requirements, contact us to discuss your circumstances.

What happens if my property does not meet the requirements?
We will explain what is not compliant, what action is needed and arrange a follow-up inspection. Properties that do not meet the requirements after 1 July 2027 may be subject to additional charges. Your obligations under the Trade Waste Policy and any existing approval still apply during the transition period.

What is pre-treatment?
Pre-treatment removes or reduces contaminants before wastewater reaches the sewer. It can involve equipment such as sink screens, grease arrestors, oil separators and settlement pits. The equipment must be suitable for the business activities and maintained to meet the discharge requirements.

What is the difference between a sewer discharge factor and a trade waste discharge factor?
A sewer discharge factor estimates how much of the water used at a property enters the sewer. A trade waste discharge factor estimates how much wastewater comes from business activities. These estimates help determine applicable usage charges. We can explain the factors used for your property after assessment.

What if the property does not produce trade waste?
Please contact us if you believe there is no trade waste discharge at the property, or if the business has closed, moved or changed its activities. We will review the information and explain what applies to your property.

Do I need to tell you about a change of owner, tenant or business activity?
Yes. Tell us about any change of owner or occupier so we can update our records. Contact us before changing the business activity, wastewater process, equipment, or the quantity or type of discharge. Approvals are not transferable, and a new approval may be needed. Visit Trade Waste Approval for more information.

Where can I find the policy and current charges?
Read our Trade Waste Policy (CEOM7046) and the Schedule of Water and Sewerage Charges. The $123.24 annual fee quoted on this page relates to the 2026–27 financial year. Contact us to confirm the charges that apply to your property.

Need help?

We recognise these arrangements are new for Broken Hill businesses. Our team will guide you through the inspection and approval process and explain what is required.

Call 1800441888 or email letschat@essentialwater.com.au. For more information about trade waste and how to apply, visit Trade Waste Services.