Who Can Legally Install a Sewer Pump Station?
For Australian homeowners, owner-builders and builders working out who has to do what on a pump station job.
Sizing it first? Our pump station size calculator works out the tank, pump head and flow for your job, then shows the packaged stations that fit.
Only a licensed plumber can legally install a sewer pump station in Australia, and only a licensed electrician can do the electrical connection. That is true in every state and territory. You can buy the station yourself, you can arrange the job, and on some sites you can do the digging. You cannot connect it to the sewer or wire it in.
We get this call every week. Usually from someone who has watched a few videos and figures it is a hole, a tank and some pipe. It is. It is also regulated work on a public sewer, and the paperwork at the end is what protects your house sale.
The short answer: a plumber and an electrician
A sewer pump station install needs two licensed trades: a plumber for the drainage and sewer connection, and an electrician for the power supply and any hardwired controls. Nobody else can sign it off.
| Task | Who can do it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Buying the pump station | Anyone | Homeowners, builders and plumbers all buy direct |
| Sizing and selecting the unit | Anyone, confirmed by the plumber | The plumber checks it against the water authority conditions |
| Excavating the pit | Owner, builder or excavator, as directed by the plumber | Levels and depth must match the drainage design |
| Setting the tank, inlet and discharge pipework | Licensed plumber | Sanitary drainage is regulated work |
| Connecting to the sewer main or property connection | Licensed plumber | Needs the water authority's consent first |
| New circuit, outlet, control panel or alarm wiring | Licensed electrician | Includes the RCD protected supply |
| Compliance certificate | Licensed plumber (and electrician for their part) | The name of the certificate differs by state |
General guide for domestic and light commercial sewer pump stations in Australia. Licence classes and certificate names vary by state and territory.
Why a licensed plumber has to do the sewer work
A licensed plumber has to install a sewer pump station because sanitary plumbing and drainage is restricted work under plumbing law in every Australian state and territory. A pump station is drainage. It takes sewage from your fixtures and pushes it into a sewer main owned by the water authority. Get that wrong and the mess is not only on your block.
In some states, drainage is its own licence class, separate from general plumbing. Ask your plumber whether their licence covers sanitary drainage. A good one will not be offended by the question.
The plumber also handles the approval side. Water authorities deal with licensed trades, not homeowners, so your plumber lodges the connection application and works to the conditions that come back. That process is covered in detail in Do You Need Council Approval for a Pump Station?
Why a licensed electrician has to do the power
A licensed electrician has to do the power to a sewer pump station because any new circuit, outlet, isolator or hardwired control in Australia is licensed electrical work. A pump station sits in a wet pit with a 240V pump in raw sewage. That is the exact setup electrical rules were written for.
Most domestic stations need a weatherproof outlet or isolator near the pit, RCD protection, and a run to the alarm panel. The plumber cannot do that part, and neither can you, even if the pump comes with a plug on it. If the outlet is not already there, an electrician puts it in.
Bigger units change the job. The Aline SABRE ALG1500-1A grinder pump is a 1.5kW single phase unit, and dual stations run two pumps through a control panel. The Kwikflo Dual Sewer Pump Station is an electrician's job from start to finish on the power side. Some larger pumps in the range are 415V three phase, which needs a three phase supply at the property. Check that before you order one.
What an owner or owner-builder can do
An owner or owner-builder can buy the pump station, project manage the job, and usually arrange the excavation, but cannot perform the plumbing or electrical work. Owner-builder permits cover building work. They do not turn you into a plumber.
Things you can sensibly do yourself:
- Pick the unit. Count the fixtures, measure the lift to the main, and read up. Our guide on 250L vs 900L vs 1200L sewer pump stations covers which size suits which job.
- Buy it. Plenty of homeowners order direct and have it delivered to site for the plumber.
- Dig the hole, if your plumber agrees and gives you the depth and position. Many prefer to do it themselves or have their excavator do it, so do not assume.
- Check access. Measure the side path and gates. A 900L tank at 1075mm across will not fit through a 900mm gap.
- Maintain it afterwards. Monthly checks and float cleaning are owner jobs. The pump station maintenance schedule lists what is yours and what is the plumber's.
Things you cannot do: lay the drainage, cut into the sewer, connect the discharge line, or wire anything. Not even "just the last bit".
What happens if an unlicensed person installs it
An unlicensed sewer pump station install can be ordered removed or redone at the owner's cost, and it leaves the property without the compliance certificate that buyers and insurers ask for. That is the real cost. The fine is the smaller problem.
Three things usually go wrong:
- Insurance. If the station fails and floods the house with sewage, an insurer can look hard at a claim on uncertified plumbing.
- The sale. Conveyancing turns up missing certificates and unapproved connections. Buyers walk, or knock the price down.
- The authority. Water authorities can require an unapproved connection to be disconnected. Digging up a buried, working station to redo it properly costs far more than doing it once.
Saving a plumber's day rate is not worth any of that.
How to pick the plumber for a pump station job
The right plumber for a pump station job holds a current licence covering sanitary drainage, has installed packaged pump stations before, and will deal with the water authority for you. Ask these before you book anyone:
- How many pump stations have you installed in the last year?
- Will you lodge the sewer connection application?
- Do you work with an electrician, or do I organise one?
- Will I get a compliance certificate at the end?
A plumber who installs these regularly will prefer a pre-assembled station, because the valves and pipework come fitted and the job is shorter. The Kwikflo 250L Sewer Pump Station arrives with the ball valve, non return valve and barrel unions already in place.
Which stations licensed plumbers install most
The sewer pump stations plumbers install most for homes are 250L packages for granny flats and basements, and 900L or 1200L packages for whole houses. These are the ones we ship to site most often.
| Station | Size | Typical job | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kwikflo 250L Sewer Pump Station | 250L | Granny flat, basement bathroom | From $3,199 |
| REEFE RGM055A 250L Sewer Pump Station | 250L | Granny flat, laundry, includes high level alarm | $3,305 |
| Kwikflo 900L Sewer Pump Station | 900L | Whole house, 3 to 4 bedrooms | $4,699 |
| Kwikflo 1200L Sewer Pump Station | 1200L | Large home, light commercial | $4,999 |
Waternex list prices in AUD including GST, prices current as of October 2026. Installation, excavation and electrical work are extra. The 250L Kwikflo is priced by state.
See the full range in Sewer Pump Stations or the wider Packaged Pump Stations collection. Plumbers and builders buying regularly should look at trade pricing.
Frequently asked questions
Who can install a sewer pump station in Australia?
A licensed plumber must install a sewer pump station in Australia, and a licensed electrician must do any electrical connection. Sanitary plumbing and drainage is regulated work in every state and territory, and the plumber issues a compliance certificate when the job is finished.
Can I install a sewer pump station myself?
No, a homeowner cannot legally install a sewer pump station in Australia, even as an owner-builder. You can buy the unit, manage the job and often arrange the excavation, but the drainage, sewer connection and electrical work must be done by licensed trades.
Does a pump station need an electrician in Australia?
Yes, a sewer pump station needs a licensed electrician in Australia for any new circuit, outlet, isolator, control panel or alarm wiring. The pump sits in a wet pit with 240V or 415V power, and that work cannot be done by the plumber or the owner.
Can an owner-builder dig the hole for a pump station?
An owner-builder can usually dig the pit for a sewer pump station, as long as the licensed plumber sets the position, depth and levels first. Some plumbers prefer to excavate themselves, so agree it with your plumber before you hire a digger.
What happens if a pump station is installed without a licensed plumber?
A sewer pump station installed without a licensed plumber can be ordered disconnected or redone at the owner's cost, and the property will have no compliance certificate. That causes problems with insurance claims and when the house is sold.
Have a plumber lined up? We will help you spec the station
Send us your fixture count, pit depth and the run to the main, or forward us your plumber's details, and we will match the right station and ship it to site. If you need a station quoted for a bigger job, use the pump station quote form.
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Talk to the Waternex team about your job
This guide is general information for Australian conditions and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed plumber. Pump station installation and sewer connection are regulated work, and electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician. Licence classes, certificates and approval requirements differ between states and water authorities, so have your plumber confirm what applies to your site before you order.