Temporary Dewatering

What is dewatering?

Dewatering refers to the removal of accumulated water (groundwater or stormwater or both):

  • from an excavation at a construction site, or
  • the emptying of a storage or impoundment such as a pool or farm dam.

What options do I have to dispose of the water?

The following options may be available for disposing of excess water removed from an excavation or from the emptying of a storage or impoundment.

1. Hunter Water sewerage network

Requests to discharge water to the sewerage network must be made in writing to Hunter Water. Typically, discharge of surface waters or groundwater to Hunter Water’s sewerage network is not permitted as excess flows can cause severe operational difficulties and potentially increase the number of sewer overflows.

2. Tanker truck

Water pumped into a tanker truck must be disposed of at an EPA-licensed waste facility. You must retain all your receipts and provide them to Council officers if requested.

3. Council’s stormwater network

Council approval is required before any water can be discharged into Council’s stormwater drainage system, including road gutters, pits, pipes and open drains.

Council requires the discharged water to be managed effectively, adhere to environmental regulations, and minimise any potential impact on the local environment and community.

What approvals do I need and how do I get them?

The Temporary Dewatering Application Form is used to apply for a permit to temporarily discharge water from a site into Council’s stormwater drainage system within a set time period.

Download the Temporary Dewatering Application Form and lodge with Council when completed. A Dewatering Management Plan and Public Liability Insurance is required for this application. Refer to the Application Form for details.

Once your application is received, you may be contacted for further information.

Your application is not a permit to undertake work. Your Temporary Dewatering Permit will only be issued after assessment, approval

and outstanding fees are paid in full.

The Temporary Dewatering Permit only covers the discharge of water into Council’s stormwater drainage system. This is not a permit to extract groundwater.

Approval is required from WaterNSW under the Water Management Act to extract groundwater from a site. More information on WaterNSW requirements can be found from the following: