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Aqua Clarus Treatment Levels & New Zealand Requirements

AU Level 1 describes a greywater quality class. Secondary and tertiary describe treatment processes and the quality those processes are designed to achieve.

For Aqua Clarus, the useful description is an AU Level 1 quality target, with an advanced-secondary organic and solids target and tertiary ultrafiltration and UV. The comparison below explains the terms without treating them as identical classifications.

Aqua Clarus M800sx

The treatment target and the process

The M800sx combines biological treatment, ultrafiltration and UV disinfection for suitable non-potable reuse. Its stated treatment objectives are:

M800sx treatment objectives
Parameter	Target
Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)	Below 10 mg/L
Total suspended solids (TSS)	Below 10 mg/L
E. coli	Below 1 cfu/100 mL

The organic and solids target is within the advanced-secondary range. Ultrafiltration and UV add tertiary filtration and disinfection stages. These are treatment targets, not drinking-water specifications.

Aqua Clarus M800sx is supported by NSW Health accreditation DGTS012 for domestic greywater treatment. The AU Level 1 target is a separate quality objective; the accreditation is not presented as an AU Level 1 certificate.

Familiar treatment terms

Primary, secondary, advanced secondary and tertiary

Primary treatment

Settling and physical separation remove part of the solids load. Primary treatment, or simple greywater screening, is not the same as AU Level 3 treated-greywater quality.

Secondary treatment

Biological treatment and solids separation reduce the organic load and suspended material. A common AS/NZS 1547:2012 secondary benchmark is BOD₅ at or below 20 mg/L and TSS at or below 30 mg/L for 90% of samples, with maximum results of 30 and 45 mg/L respectively.

Advanced secondary / high-secondary

These terms describe improved organic and solids removal beyond ordinary secondary treatment. The numerical requirement belongs to the relevant guidance or project specification, rather than one universal use of the name.

Tertiary treatment

Additional treatment after secondary processing, such as further filtration, disinfection or nutrient reduction. In the M800sx, ultrafiltration and UV provide the tertiary stages; the term alone does not imply nutrient removal or drinking-water quality.

AS/NZS 1547 concerns on-site domestic wastewater management. Treatment terminology and local requirements are also explained in council wastewater guidance.

Australian greywater classes

How AU Levels 3, 2 and 1 compare

The figures below summarise selected AS 1546.4:2016 greywater criteria. Read each pair as 90% of samples at or below / single-sample maximum. They are reference criteria, not a table of M800sx test results.

On a small screen, swipe across the table to compare all columns.

Selected Australian greywater quality criteria
Class	BOD₅ (mg/L)	TSS (mg/L)	E. coli (cfu/100 mL)	Turbidity (NTU)
AU Level 3	20 / 30	30 / 45	10 / 30	Not listed
AU Level 2	10 / 20	10 / 20	10 / 30	2 / 5
AU Level 1	10 / 20	10 / 20	1 / 10	2 / 5

AU Levels 1 and 2 share the same organic, solids and turbidity criteria in this summary. AU Level 1 has the tighter E. coli criterion. Full assessment also includes the testing programme, applicable disinfection requirements and the Level 1 microbiological challenge.

Reference: PIA greywater test criteria and EPA Victoria, Table 4-6.

In Australian guidance, AU Level 3 is associated with subsurface irrigation; AU Level 2 adds toilet flushing and specified surface irrigation; AU Level 1 includes washing-machine cold feed and specified hose uses. For a property here, the reuse arrangement still needs the appropriate plumbing, storage, discharge and site approvals.

Practical comparison

Relate the two sets of terms

Useful treatment context — not a formal equivalence table
Australian class	Local treatment context
AU Level 3	Secondary-type organic and solids quality, with an additional microbial criterion.
AU Level 2	Advanced-secondary-range organic and solids criteria, with turbidity and microbial control.
AU Level 1	The same organic and solids criteria as AU Level 2, with a tighter microbial criterion. The M800sx approach uses tertiary UF and UV to pursue this target.

BOD describes the oxygen demand from biodegradable material. TSS measures suspended solids. E. coli is a microbial indicator, while turbidity measures cloudiness. Together they describe more than the clarity of the water alone.

System requirements

Match treatment quality to the intended reuse

A reuse system brings together suitable source water, treatment, storage and dedicated delivery to the chosen outlets. Drinking-water protection and ongoing servicing are part of that arrangement.

Main standards and design requirements
Reference	What it covers
Building Code G12	Water-supply health protection, drinking-water separation and identification of non-potable supplies.
Building Code G13	Wastewater collection, sanitary plumbing, drainage and appropriate treatment and discharge arrangements.
AS/NZS 1547:2012	On-site domestic wastewater design and management; G13/VM4 uses specified parts within its scope.
AS/NZS 1546.1 and relevant secondary-treatment product standards	Product requirements for septic tanks or secondary systems. These are different from greywater Level 1–3 classes; use the standard and edition relevant to the equipment and design.
AS 1546.4:2016	Australian domestic greywater-system testing and quality levels.
AS/NZS 3500.1 and AS/NZS 3500.2	Water services and sanitary plumbing/drainage where used by the selected compliance route, including applicable editions and modifications.
Site, council and network requirements	Discharge conditions, setbacks, sewer connections, monitoring and any required consents.

Higher-quality treatment can support a wider range of non-potable uses, but the complete arrangement needs to suit the property. Our team can help with product selection and information for the designer or installer.

Reuse water is not drinking water. Retain a separate arrangement for toilet waste, kitchen wastewater and any water not included in the greywater system.

Aqua Clarus Treatment Levels & New Zealand Requirements

The treatment target and the process

Primary, secondary, advanced secondary and tertiary

Primary treatment

Secondary treatment

Advanced secondary / high-secondary

Tertiary treatment

How AU Levels 3, 2 and 1 compare

Relate the two sets of terms

Match treatment quality to the intended reuse

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