What is a wastewater treatment system and do I need one?

A wastewater treatment system processes and treats all the wastewater from your home or property — including sewage and greywater — on-site before safely returning it to the environment. If your property isn't connected to a public sewer network (as is common on lifestyle blocks, rural properties, and new builds in Auckland's wider region), you'll need your own onsite wastewater system. RWTS can assess your site and recommend the right solution.

What's the difference between a septic tank and a wastewater treatment system?

A traditional septic tank provides basic primary treatment — solids settle to the bottom and liquid flows out, but it doesn't treat the wastewater to a high standard. A modern wastewater treatment system, like the RWTS Recirculating Textile Filter (RTF), provides advanced secondary treatment, producing high-quality, reusable outflow that exceeds New Zealand council guidelines. RWTS systems use significantly less power and produce cleaner, safer effluent than conventional septic systems.

How do I know if my property needs a new wastewater system?

You may need a new system if you're building a new home, subdividing a property, your existing system is failing or ageing, you're experiencing odours or wet patches near your system, or your council has flagged that your current setup doesn't meet compliance standards. RWTS offers a free site visit and assessment to help you understand your options.

Do I need council consent to install a wastewater system in Auckland?

Yes. Installing a new wastewater system requires a building consent from your local council, as well as a resource consent in many cases depending on your site conditions and the type of system. RWTS handles the entire consent process on your behalf — including liaising with Auckland Council and other regional authorities — so you don't need to engage a separate engineer.

Which councils does RWTS work with?

RWTS primarily works across the Auckland, Waikato, Kaipara and the Far North regional Councils. Our team is familiar with local requirements and has long-standing working relationships with council teams, which helps streamline the consent and approval process.

How much does a wastewater treatment system cost in NZ?

The cost of a wastewater treatment system depends on the size of your property, the number of bedrooms, site conditions, and the type of system required. Residential systems typically start from around $15,000–$20,000 installed, but costs vary. RWTS provides a free, no-obligation on-site quote so you get an accurate price for your specific situation — no surprises.

What's included in a free quote from RWTS?

Our free quote includes a site visit from one of our design consultants who will assess your property, soil conditions, and council requirements. We'll recommend the most suitable system, outline the full scope of work, and provide a fixed price that covers design, consent, installation, and commissioning. We come to you — no obligation required.

How long does installation take?

Most residential installations are completed within one to two days once consents are approved. The consent process itself typically takes four to eight weeks depending on the council and complexity of your site. RWTS manages the entire process from start to finish, keeping you informed at every stage.

Do I need to hire a separate engineer or does RWTS handle permits?

RWTS handles everything in-house — site evaluation, design reports, council liaison, consent applications, installation, and commissioning. Unlike some other providers, we do not require you to engage a separate engineer. This makes the process simpler, faster, and more cost-effective for you.

What makes RWTS systems different from other wastewater solutions?

RWTS systems are designed and manufactured here in New Zealand specifically for New Zealand conditions and council requirements. Our Recirculating Textile Filter (RTF) provides advanced secondary treatment — a step above most systems on the market — without using costly mechanical aerators or blowers. Systems run on as little as 20 cents of electricity per day, produce high-grade reusable outflow, have no noise or smell, and are backed by our own in-house service team.

Are your systems environmentally friendly?

Yes. RWTS systems use up to 85% less power than comparable aerator-based systems, produce no noise or odour, and generate high-quality treated outflow that can be safely reused for irrigation — returning clean water to your lawn, garden, or paddock. Our systems are designed to exceed New Zealand council environmental guidelines and protect local waterways and soil.

How much power does a wastewater treatment system use?

For a standard household, an RWTS system uses an average of just 20 cents of electricity per day — less than half the running cost of an aerator system. Over a year, that makes a meaningful difference to your power bill compared to older or competing systems.

What is a Packed Bed Reactor (PBR) system?

A Packed Bed Reactor, also known as a Recirculating Textile Filter (RTF), is an advanced secondary wastewater treatment system. It works by passing partially treated wastewater through a bed of specialised non-woven textile media. Bacteria living on the textile surface consume the organic material in the effluent naturally, without mechanical aerators or blowers. The result is clean, high-grade treated water — RWTS's RTF system is classified as an 'Advanced' secondary treatment plant, which is a higher standard than most systems available in NZ.

How often does my wastewater system need servicing?

Auckland Council requires wastewater systems to be serviced at least every six months. RWTS offers maintenance contracts that cover these regular visits, giving you peace of mind that your system remains compliant and performing at its best. Our dedicated in-house service team carries out all maintenance — we don't outsource.

What happens if my system breaks down?

RWTS provides 24/7 emergency call-out service for all clients. If something goes wrong, our team is just a phone call away — and many issues can be diagnosed and resolved over the phone without a call-out fee. For on-site issues, we'll get to you as quickly as possible.

What are the compliance requirements for wastewater systems in NZ?

In the Auckland region, onsite wastewater systems must be installed with appropriate building and resource consents, meet the performance standards set by Auckland Council, and be maintained under a formal maintenance contract with a qualified provider. RWTS manages all of this on your behalf and supplies the required maintenance contract documentation. Requirements vary by region — contact us if you're outside Auckland.

Can RWTS service a system installed by another company?

Yes. RWTS can service and maintain wastewater systems installed by other providers. Our experienced technicians work on a wide range of system types. If you're unsure about the condition of an existing system or need to get onto a compliant maintenance schedule, get in touch and we can arrange an inspection.

What is included in a maintenance contract?

Our maintenance contracts include regular scheduled visits (at least every six months as required by Auckland Council), a full system inspection and performance check, pump checks, filter inspection and cleaning where required, and a written service report. Maintenance contracts also ensure you remain compliant with council requirements and help extend the life of your system.

Do you install systems for new builds?

Yes — new builds are one of our most common projects. We work closely with builders, developers, and homeowners from the planning stage right through to installation and commissioning. We'll attend the site early, provide design input, manage consents, and make sure everything is ready to go when you need it.

Can RWTS help with commercial or high-use sites?

Absolutely. RWTS designs and installs systems for commercial properties, government facilities, public amenities, community buildings, aged care facilities, and more. We've worked on everything from golf courses to resorts to large-scale community developments. Commercial systems are engineered to handle higher volumes and more demanding conditions than residential installations.

What size property or daily usage suits each system type?

Residential systems are typically sized based on the number of bedrooms (which determines daily wastewater flow). Our standard RTF system suits most homes from two to five bedrooms. For larger households, lifestyle blocks with multiple dwellings, or commercial sites, we design custom systems to meet your specific daily volume and treatment requirements. RWTS collectively manages systems treating over three million litres of wastewater per day across New Zealand.

Frequently Asked Questions - Reflection Wastewater Treatment Solutions

Whether you're planning a new build, a rural property, or need extra water storage — here are the questions we hear most often about our concrete tanks.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for, give us a call on 0800 336622 or request a free quote and one of our team will be happy to help.

Getting Started

Q: What size tanks do you supply? A: We currently manufacture 15,000 litre and 25,000 litre precast concrete tanks. Our 25,000 litre tank has an outside diameter of 3.73m and an overall height of 2.936m.

Q: Are your tanks suitable for my site? A: Most residential and rural sites are suitable. We recommend a site assessment to confirm access for our delivery truck and crane, and to check ground conditions for excavation. Get in touch and we’ll talk through your site.

Q: Can I drive over my tank once it’s installed? A: Our tanks are rated for up to 300mm of ground cover and 2,500kg of light vehicle loading. Note the manhole riser and lid themselves are not trafficable — they’re rated to a 500kg max load capacity.

Delivery & Installation

Q: How much space do I need for delivery and excavation? A: For one tank, excavate a square hole 4m x 4m, with at least 4m of clear space on all sides for safe installation and access. For two or more tanks, add 4m to the excavation length per additional tank (e.g. 8m x 4m for two tanks). The delivery truck weighs around 32,000kg loaded and needs a minimum clear roadway width of 6m where standard access isn’t possible.

Q: What foundation preparation is required? A: The excavation base needs to be firm, undisturbed ground, level to within 15mm across the tank footprint, with at least 100mm of clean 7mm granular fines spread evenly across the bottom. Excavated spoil can’t be used to build up low spots — it settles unevenly and can throw the tank off plumb.

Q: How much does a full tank weigh? A: A 25,000 litre tank weighs 9.4 tonnes empty. Combined with its contents, a full tank weighs approximately 32–33 tonnes, which is why correct foundation preparation is essential.

Q: Can I install more than one tank? A: Yes. Tanks can be connected at the base to operate at the same water level using flexible connection pipework. Leave approximately 400mm between tanks for connections and backfilling.

Q: What do I need to do before the truck arrives? A: Excavation complete, foundation level and prepared with granular fines, and the access route clear of fences, overhead lines, low branches and other obstacles. If access is restricted or uncertain, arrange a site assessment with us before booking delivery.

Product & Specification

Q: What are your tanks made from? A: Steel-reinforced precast concrete, 70 MPa strength, with a 65mm average wall thickness and 90mm floor thickness. All measurements are to +/-10mm tolerance.

Q: Why choose concrete over plastic or fibreglass? A: Concrete doesn’t degrade under UV, won’t taint stored water, and naturally insulates against heat — keeping water cooler and reducing algae growth. It’s also heavier and more storm-stable, and doesn’t require the specific backfill procedures plastic and fibreglass tanks demand.

Warranty & Care

Q: What’s covered under warranty? A: Our warranty covers manufacturing defects when the tank is installed, backfilled and maintained according to our installation instructions. It doesn’t cover damage from incorrect installation, unauthorised drilling or connections, tanks moved from their original position, or damage from natural disasters. Full terms are in our installation guide.

Q: What backfill material should I use? A: Clean, rock-free soil or another approved fine material. Never use rubble, sharp stones, construction debris or rubbish — these can damage the tank wall and will void the warranty.

Q: Does burial depth affect the warranty? A: Yes. Tanks installed more than 1.2m into the ground need precautions against floating (such as a drain coil or anti-flotation concrete), and no tank should be buried past its maximum rated depth. Talk to us if your site has deep excavation requirements.

Still have questions? We're happy to help.

Call us on 0800 336 622 | Contact us | 19 Goatley Road Warkworth