Single House New Connections A Quick Reference Guide

Transcription

1 Single House New Connections A Quick Reference Guide

2 To assist with all aspects of water and waste water connection to the public network Including conversions from private water supplies 1. Why might you require a new water or waste water connection? If you are constructing a new domestic property, renovating an existing property, requiring a temporary connection, building water supply or wanting to convert from a private water supply, you may require a new connection to the public water supply or sewer network. There are various utility connections required within the overall construction process for your development, so it is important that you plan these connections at the earliest convenience. If you are new to this process it can be very difficult to understand the process and requirements throughout the application stage for a water and waste water connection. This guidance leaflet is intended to make this process simpler and easier to understand. We will highlight if there are any items for you to consider when planning your development. Important factors to consider in this planning process for a water or waste water connection are the location of your nearest public water supply or public waste water supply. In some areas of Scotland you may be some distance from the nearest public network and you will need to consider the implications that this may have. The nearest public network may be quite a distance from your planned development and you may have to consider this in the cost of connecting to the water network or alternative options to drain your development on location via another option such as a septic tank for waste water and SUDS for rainfall run-off. is only legally obliged to take its network to such points to enable a connection at reasonable cost, but we are not required to do anything which is not practicable at reasonable cost. Index 1. Why might you require a new water or waste water connection? 2. Planning for your new connection water and waste water 3. What is your role in the water connection process? 4. Converting from a private water supply what is required? 5. Water Byelaws what are your duties? 6. What is your role in the waste water connection process? 7. Application forms submissions to 8. What are the costs to complete a connection to the public water supply or waste water supply? 9. Additional Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions 10. Glossary of terms 11. Diagram 12. Short process map 2. Planning for your new connection water and waste water We would recommend that you commence with planning your design for your connection to both the public water supply and public sewer network as early in the process as possible. When you submit the planning applications for either outline or full planning for your development location, the Local Authority will pass your application to Scottish Water as a statutory consultee in the process. We provide comments as one of several public bodies, and this is provided to the Local Authority and planning applicant in 21 days. A further definition of reasonable cost can be found in our glossary of terms. Prior to applying for a new connection, it can be beneficial to arrange a site visit from one of our inspectors via our Customer Helpline so that we can help you locate the nearest water and waste water connection points. This will enable you to find out early where the nearest services are in relation to your site and any potential requirements in order to connect, which can help in your design submissions to. Note: Please ensure you have carried out suitable checks for existing public infrastructure within the boundary of your land. This will not always be noted within land title. 2 1

3 Drawings can also be made available via National One or SISUK (Site Investigation Services) for a small charge, and these are copies taken from our internal system showing all public network supplies, or you can visit a local office to view these. National One contact details: Phone: Web: SISUK contact details: Phone: Web: SW@sisplan.co.uk 3. What is your role in the water connection process? You should ensure that you have engaged suitable contractors or designers at various stages of the process. This may range from a plumber or architect to support either internal plumbing requirements or the overall design of the water connection, through to a contractor who can support the excavation works required for the water connection. Once you have submitted a formal application to our business team and we have assessed your application to ensure it provides us with all required information, we would then provide you with a quotation for the cost of the final connection to our network, and confirmation of our approval for you to continue based on your technical design. If you wish to proceed and are ready to make payment, you must then accept this quotation. We will dispatch an invoice to you, and once payment is complete you may then request a track inspection. Details of how to make a payment are contained on the back of the invoice. Our committed service level is 20 working days, based on a fully completed application form and supporting material.you can then carry out all works on-site to complete the internal plumbing, groundwork excavations within the boundary of your plot, up to the curtilage of your land, as well as excavations out to the public footpath or road, to expose the public water supply. Our approval letter details all elements of the work which is your responsibility to carry out and materials you must supply. Note: Please read our response letter carefully, since we may detail specific requirements that you or your contractor must put in place. Land access (wayleave): should you need to lay a supply pipe across land which is not in your ownership, to complete a connection to the public supply, you must obtain the necessary wayleave. may request a copy of this documentation for our reference and review. When you have completed all excavations and pipe laying, you must then make a request to to complete what we call a track inspection. We will send an inspector to assess all elements of work from internal byelaws compliance to the work completed to the boundary of your site. They will ensure that this complies with our standards and specifications. This request will be completed within 5 working days from the time the request is made. In certain circumstances we can arrange a specific appointment to ensure you are available for our inspector. Once approved, we can then proceed to schedule your connection to the network with our contractors. This will normally take up to 10 working days once programmed. 4. Converting from a private water supply what is required? If you have a private water supply and wish to consider the option of a connection to the public water supply network, it may be more beneficial in the first instance for you to contact your Local Authority as they are responsible for regulating private water supplies under the Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations The local authority should be able to provide you with advice on how you might improve the quality and / or sufficiency of your supply, if these are your concerns. A non-means tested grant of up to 800 per eligible person is available through your local authority to improve your private water supply and the local authority is able to pay more than this where they are satisfied that the person could not, without undue hardship, finance the works with such a grant. Note: This grant cannot be specifically used to aid connection to the public water supply. Please refer to your Local Authority web-site for more information regarding any grant support which can be offered to improve a private supply, or the Private Water Supply web-site for more general advice: water/ccc_firstpage.jsp is not able to assist financially with a transfer from a private supply to a public water supply, and all standard costs for a new connection would be applied to a new application, as they would in all new single house connections to our public network. Please reference section 3 & 7 for more information to proceed with your water application as per standard process. Private supplies Connecting more than one property at a location In some circumstances, more than one homeowner in a single location can be interested in converting from a private supply. If this requires the extension of the public water main, and the homeowners are a reasonable distance from the nearest public supplies, can advise on the most appropriate connection design to deliver the best solution. Note: It is important that all homeowners closely liaise in the planning, funding and delivery of this new infrastructure and associated individual supplies to ensure the final connections can be well co-ordinated locally. This is also useful if all homeowners are using the same contractor. In these situations, is able to apply what is called a reasonable cost calculation to meet the additional infrastructure (pipework) installed to the boundary of a resident s land, if it meets the criteria set out for this. This criteria primarily relates to the pipework meeting our standards to transfer it into public ownership e.g it has to be installed to adoptable standards. For this circumstance, early discussions with our team are essential to confirm the best option. We would encourage any homeowner involved, to submit an enquiry application to our business team, with as much information as possible, and clearly indicating the numbers of properties potentially seeking a conversion to public supply. For these early enquiries, we have a specific form which is titled: Pre Development Application. We will then contact you to discuss your collective needs, and arrange for a site visit as required from local network inspectors. 2 3

4 5. Water Byelaws what are your duties? Owners and occupiers of premises, and anyone who installs or maintains plumbing systems and water fittings, have a legal obligation to ensure that the systems and fittings meet the requirements of the Water Byelaws. Water Byelaws set out the legal and mandatory requirements for the design, installation and maintenance of plumbing systems, water fittings and water using appliances connected directly, or indirectly, to the public water supply. Additional elements relating to internal byelaws must also be supported by the houseowner to ensure that the internal plumbing and fittings are suitable to connect to the public water supply. Water Byelaws apply to all plumbing systems, water fittings and appliances connected to the public water supply. They help to ensure that any plumbing system in your home is installed and maintained correctly and. Complying with these Byelaws can help to prevent any potential contamination of the public water supply or the supply into other parts of your home. It is important that you understand that Water Byelaws: can help protect You, your family and neighbours; by protecting drinking water and therefore the health and safety of everyone You, from criminal prosecution and potentially substantial fines. For more information and guidance on Water Byelaws please access our web-site to view this and search Water Byelaws Guide 2004 which can be downloaded in pdf format. Private Supply conversions Where you intend to convert to a public supply only, or are connecting solely for a back-up supply during periods where your private supply is insufficient, the whole of your plumbing installation must comply in full with Water Byelaws requirements. This may mean the replacement of some, or all, of your existing system and this should be considered at an early stage in your planning. Internal byelaws requirements must be consulted to ensure all internal plumbing work is modified correctly to comply with regulations. You will not be able to utilise the same internal pipework for public supply connections. Approved Contractors You may benefit from the use of an approved contractor (plumber). An approved plumber will certify that his or her work meets the requirements of the Byelaws. If any breaches are subsequently found in the certified work, the legal responsibility would fall upon the plumber and not the homeowner or occupier. advises the use of professional plumbers and plumbing contractors who are members of recognised national licensing schemes, For further details and information on approved contractors visit: or 6. What is your role in the waste water connection process? You should ensure that you have engaged suitable contractors or designers at various stages of the process. This may range from a plumber or architect to support either internal plumbing requirements or the overall design of the sewer proposals, through to a contractor who can support the excavation works required as well as the installation of the final sewer connection. Once you have submitted a formal application to our business team and we have assessed your application to ensure it provides us with all required information, we will provide you with confirmation of our approval for you to continue, and a quote for payment. This will be based on your technical design which should detail how you will manage your waste water drainage connection and your surface water management for the site, as required. Note: Please read our response letter carefully, since we may detail specific requirements that you or your contractor must put in place. You can then advance with all works to be conducted on-site to complete the internal plumbing, groundwork excavations within the boundary of your plot, up to the curtilage of your land, as well as exposing the public sewer for your contractor to make the connection. Our approval letter details all elements of the work which is your responsibility to carry out and materials you must supply. When you have completed all site sewer connection excavations and pipe laying, and prior to the final sewer connection, you must then make a request to to complete what we term as a sewer inspection. We require 5 working days notice for this request. You or your designated contractor can contact us to request this and advise that you are ready. We will send an inspector from the Field Service Team in relation to the actual public sewer connection. They will ensure that this complies with our existing standards and specifications. In certain circumstances we can arrange a specific appointment to ensure you are available for our inspector. We would ask that customers ensure that the site is ready for inspection to reduce the risk of an aborted site inspection. Please note: the sewer connection to the public sewer is be performed by a suitably qualified contractor of your choice. Scottish Water do not complete this connection. Additional note: You must ensure you comply with the approved route and point of connection for all drainage connections. Failure to do so could delay provision of your building warrant from the Local Authority and could present flooding/drainage risks to nearby householders/locations. 4 5

5 7. Application forms submissions to You can access all application forms on our web-site: Go to the section Business >> Getting Connected For a new water connection for a house, conversion from private supply, building water connection, we have a specific form: Water Connection Application. For a new housing sewer supply we have a specific form: Sewer Connection Application. Guidance notes are contained throughout the forms to assist with completion of the correct mandatory sections, and it tells you why this information is important to ensure that our business team process your application promptly. Please note: it is important to include your planning reference on your form, if applicable, and a clear site location plan with your submission. Within your Water Connection form you must also note your sewer application details, or if you have a plan to discharge to a private drainage solution before we proceed with your water connection. Sewer guidance: It is a requirement that you submit a detailed drainage design of your proposed drainage for your site which clearly shows how it is connecting to the sewer network. This should: note all sizes and gradients of all pipe work illustrate what is being proposed with the surface water from your site, which ideally should go to a soakaway on site. It may be beneficial to liaise with a design consultant to have a suitable proposal drawn up for review. If any sections noted as mandatory are not fully completed it may delay the processing of your applications within our committed timescales, and we will contact you to confirm any information that is missing or is unclear. If you require additional support you can contact our office directly within office hours by calling What are the costs to complete a connection to the public water supply or waste water supply? All of our current charges for Customer Connection services are contained within a document titled: Scheme of Charges your charges explained* (* charges detailed below) Connection Charge (Water 25mm /32mm connection) Inspection Charge Infrastructure Charge Application Charge *Charges above apply for both water and sewer, apart from the connection charge which is water only. *Building Water is a separate charge, and is determined by house type. You must provide suitable evidence that a potable water source has been used if you wish to remove this charge from your quote/invoice. For water supply connections of greater than 32mm the work will be assessed and quoted on a per application basis, and will be based on the size of connection proposed, the size of existing water main and any components to be installed. We also may ask you to take your connection to a water main or sewer that is a greater distance from a nearer public pipe. This may be due to known supply issues from this pipework and therefore a new supply is not available. Please note: if our public main is of a particularly large diameter and is deemed a trunk main, then your quotation may also include excavation costs for exposing this strategic main as a requirement. When connecting to a strategic main this can involve a more delicate form of digging around the pipework to ensure no damage is caused, and protect the supplies to existing customers. Lastly, any new properties will be charged a building water charge and this will be included as a separate item in your quote. This charge can differ per house type. If you have used an alternative source of water for building use, which was not taken from a public supply, you will be asked to provide evidence of this water source such as receipts or photographs, before we remove this from your quote. If you plan to use an alternative source, it is helpful to detail this on your application form. Our Scheme of Charges document is updated annually, and a new version is published in April. Additional guidance for residents of the Perth and Kinross Local Authority area: is required to undertake any public ground or road excavations for the installation of new water services. This also requires that we request all road opening permits for this work from the Local Authority. As such, this will be reflected in any quote provided to you and will show all work as quoted by our primary delivery partner Clancy Docwra. To support the private element of the work required you should contact our delivery partner Clancy Dowcra directly for a separate quotation for this. Details for this company can be sourced directly from their website. 6 7

6 9. Inspector Top Tips Water connection checklist before inspection: Ensure the water main to be connected to is fully exposed to the requested dimensions (with the exception of Perth & Kinross council connections) and the track is fully dug to the correct depth along its entire length. Ensure the correct size and material of pipe has been laid in the track and the boundary box has been installed at the correct depth, and is located in the correct position. Ensure the service pipe is ducted in to the building at the correct depth, is insulated where required, the duct is sealed internally and externally and the service pipe terminates with a stopcock, double check valve and drain tap immediately at the point of entry. Sewer connection checklist before inspection: Ensure the disconnecting chamber is located immediately next to the property boundary within the curtilage of the property to be connected. Ensure the inlet, outlet and the channel running through the disconnecting chamber is 150mm in diameter. Ensure that 150mm twin wall PVC pipe is used to connect between the sewer and the disconnecting chamber. 10. Additional Guidance and Frequently Asked Questions Q. What soil investigation requirements do I have to consider? A. No soil investigation requirements are stipulated for connections of 25mm or 32mm (sizes which supply a single property), though it would be recommended to undertake this investigation if the proposed site is thought to have some risk, for example, in the vicinity of a petrol station or refuse tip, or if the site s previous use causes concern i.e. a previous chemical plant or similar industrial building. Note: Please plan the request for your road opening permit carefully, and ensure it is co-ordinated with our confirmed connection date. Furthermore, if your site is located near a railway line, there may be potential contamination issues and you should take this into account for investigation. Q. How might this impact your material choice? A. By undertaking a soil investigation to United Kingdom Water Industry Research (UKWIR) standards, this will highlight if a particular material can withstand certain contaminants or chemicals, without erosion or risk to the supply. As such, a material choice would have to be selected which is suitable against found contaminants, so that your supply is protected from potential contamination. Q. Why might I require a road opening permit? A. If the public water main which you intend to connect to, is located within a public road, then a road opening permit will have to be applied for via the Local Authority, to undertake the work of excavating the road as this can cause disruption to the road. Therefore relevant notice can be issued to the Local Authority by applying for this permit. They will also advise regarding relevant traffic management to be undertaken. You may also need to consider if the road is a trunk road. You should reference the Transport Scotland website to confirm the name of the organisation in charge of maintenance and permits for access. Q. How do I request this? A. Contact the Local Authority Roads Department directly or have your contractor contact them. Q. What are the risks if the correct traffic management is not in place at the time of connection? A. If our squad arrives to find that the legally required level of traffic management is not in place, they will not complete the work due to health and safety concerns, and will leave site. This will result in an abortive visit charge being applied, and your connection date being re-scheduled. Q. Do I have to apply to if I intend to connect to a private pipe, that then connects to the public water network? Important: Please ensure all relevant checks above are confirmed before requesting a site inspection. A. Yes, you would be expected to submit an enquiry to allow to check the network capacity. All physical aspects of the 8 9

7 actual connection would have to be arranged by you once permission from the pipeowner is agreed. may request proof of such permission. Q. What if my new development site is building over or near to infrastructure? A. must protect all existing public infrastructure, and must ensure that there is clear and safe access should a repair or maintenance be required. We will provide you with guidance of the clearance distance required, or any mitigating efforts required by you to proceed with your development. This is also to ensure the safety of you and your new building for the future. Q. What if my existing house supply is a lead pipe and needs replaced? A. To request a lead renewal please contact our Customer Helpline on and they will provide you with a form to complete and return. This process is free of charge. To qualify for a lead renewal your new supply pipe must replace the route of your existing supply pipe. Lead pipes occasionally cause problems with water quality. Older buildings are more likely to have lead plumbing. We will replace our part of any lead pipe when you are replacing pipework that is your responsibility. If you would like us to check if our communication pipe is lead, please call our Customer Helpline on to arrange an appointment. Q. What if I require further advice or support? A. Website: our team: customerconnections@scottishwater.co.uk Main office contact address: Customer Connections The Bridge, Buchanan Gate Business Park, Cumbernauld Road, Stepps, G33 6FB Main office phone number, available 9am 5pm: Our main office operates Monday Friday within business hours. Request an inspector: Should you require early assistance on-site, prior to submitting an application to, you can make a request to our team on for a site visit. This allows a member of our experienced Field Team to attend and provide guidance or answer any immediate questions you may have. If further site visits/inspections are required: once you have submitted an application to our main Customer Connections office, you will require attendance from our inspectors at several points of the process, to ensure your work is conducted to our published standards. 11. Glossary of Terms Building Water Water used for the purposes of building work taken from a public supply source. Alternative sources of water from bowsers or private supplies have to be evidenced. Communication Pipe Defined as where any premises supplied with water abuts on the part of the road where the main is laid. The portion of the service pipe as lies between the main and the stopcock, where the stopcock is placed as near the boundary of the road as is reasonably practicable. This portion of the service pipe will be adopted by. Curtilage The ground associated with a building which has a use associated with the building e.g. gardens, ground and car parks. Reasonable Cost There are Regulations which set out what is meant by reasonable cost and how these costs are calculated. If an applicant is unable to reach agreement with on this issue, they may question whether: a supply can be provided at reasonable cost or if anything is practicable at reasonable cost or the point to which pipes must be taken to enable a building to be connected at reasonable cost. That question should be addressed to Scottish Ministers who will refer the matter to the economic regulator, the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (WICS) for determination. Soakaway A pit from which surface water can drain slowly out into the surrounding soil. Sewer Generally greater than 150mm in diameter for the transportation of wastewater from more than one property. Supply pipe The section of a water service pipe that is not a communication pipe. The supply pipe remains the responsibility of the Customer and will run from property to curtilage (boundary of property). Stand-pipe this allows users to access our water network and draw water from hydrants using our approved standpipes. Each standpipe is fitted with an anti-pollution device to prevent back-flow and reduce the risk of contamination entering the public water supply. They are distinctly coloured with SW corporate colours, blue and purple, and are tagged with an individual registration number. Please note SW temporary standpipes cannot be used for a drinking water supply or building water. If you are building a new property and require a stand-pipe connection, you must purchase a standpipe and have this properly fitted to the end of your supply pipe. Track Inspection Formal inspection by of assets and infrastructure associated with the water connections to ensure compliance with the latest version of Water for Scotland: A Design and Construction Guide for Developers in Scotland and all other requirements Water Main Pipe for the purpose of transporting water to a number of properties, generally of a diameter greater than 32mm. Water mains may be public or private. Wayleave This is a legal term and provides approval from the landowner to access the land

8 Responsibilities for Water and Waste water Assets Single Connection Customer Journey L N drain STAGE 1 Apply for full planning from your Local Authority Quote your reference on all application forms boundray of premises supply pipe (water) road/pavement boundray C stopcock or meter G D I B E A F H J K M STAGE 2 Submit an enquiry regarding water and waste water services This will ensure your property can be supplied as required STAGE 3 Apply for a water and waste water connection Always supply all mandatory information noted on our forms Table 1: Responsibilities for water and waste water assets Reference in diagram A B Communication pipe (part 1 infrastructure) Stopcock or meter B C Supply pipe (part 1) Ownership and maintenance responsibility Property owner STAGE 4A Water Connection: Capacity is assessed Quote prepared/approval issued Quote accepted Invoice issued for payment Service timescales: 20 working days to issue approval. STAGE 4B Waste water Connection: Capacity is assessed Quote prepared/approval issued Quote accepted Invoice issued for payment Service timescales: 20 working days to issue approval. Internal plumbing Property owner G H New water main (part 2) M N Local existing mains (also includes water service reservoirs pumping stations not included in this diagram) (local) (part 3) D E Private drain (part 1 infrastructure) E F Lateral sewer (part 1) I J Waste water (new sewer) (part 2) Property owner STAGE 5 Track Inspection requested 5 days notice must be provided See Inspector Top Tips L K Local existing sewers, waste water pumping stations, some SUDS (part 3) Note: A supply pipe laid over third party ground is the responsibility of the property owner. STAGE 6A Connection completion Following successful track inspection the site connection will be planned for completion STAGE 6B Connection completion The connection is supported through your own private contractor 12 13

9 We want to make it easy to contact us here s how: We always have someone here to take your call, you can write to us or alternatively you can contact us through our website. Alternative formats of this leaflet can be made available free of charge. For information on Braille, large print, audio and a variety of languages, please call our Customer Helpline. If you have a disability, medical condition or other reason where you may need additional assistance from then please contact us and we can add your name, address and requirements to our confidential Additional Support Register. We record all calls for quality and training purposes. Customer Helpline PO Box 8855, Edinburgh, EH10 6YQ twitter.com/scottish_water SW SingleConn 04/15