Application Pack 3. How to apply to Self-Lay Water Mains and Services

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1 Guidance Notes Application Pack 3 How to apply to Self-Lay Water Mains and Services The provisions of the Water Industry Act 1991 (WIA91) take precedence over these notes. You may wish to refer to the WIA91 to obtain fuller information regarding this. If you do not wish to self lay and would prefer us to design and lay the water main and services in your development, please refer to Application Pack 2 How to requisition a water main and Application Pack 1 A new connection to a watermain. We recommend that you read the guidance notes before making an application. Terms used in this Application Pack are explained in our Glossary which is on our website 1. Introduction This document is to be read in conjunction with the Code of Practice for the Self- Laying of Water Mains and Services - England and Wales published by the Water Research Council (WRC), and our specific addendum. Website (online ordering): publications@wrcplc.co.uk Telephone: Receiving our approval to self-lay water mains does not include approval to connect to the existing water network. To obtain approval to connect you must complete and return Application Pack 1 A new Connection to a Water Main. If you wish us to lay any off-site water mains you may apply for this service by completing and returning Application Pack 2 Requisition a Water Main. Both of these Application Packs can be found on our website. 1

2 Following the introduction of the Water Act 2003, you can elect to design and construct water mains yourself or can nominate a Self Lay Organisation (SLO) to do this work for you. Alternatively, you or a SLO can elect to have the design carried out by us and choose to construct the water main and services yourself. The Developer, landowner and the SLO must enter into a legal agreement with us. A legal agreement will be prepared, at the cost of the developer, to establish our responsibilities and those of the developer and the SLO before the mains and service construction commences. Separate legal agreements will be required to cover phased or staged projects. The work carried out under a self lay agreement must be carried out by a company that is competent in the following: designing and /or constructing water mains service pipe laying service connections health and safety regulatory requirements hydraulics water supply hygiene customer care environmental issues Accreditation can be sought through the Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS) which is administered by Lloyds Registers This is deemed to be proof of competence for SLO s in England and Wales. We may accept applications from companies that are not fully accredited and reserve the right to assess the competence of an SLO if it does not have WIRS accreditation. If this is the case and you have any queries please contact us on Application Procedure This guidance outlines the process which you must follow if you wish to self lay. The full guidance and procedure is explained in The Code of Practice the Self- Laying of water Mains and Services - England and Wales published by WRC, 2

3 Your Application In order to make an application you must complete and return the application, together with the information listed in the attached checklist and pay the initial fee as indicated on the application form. Where you are carrying out the design, please send a copy of your design package with your application pack for our approval. Alternatively, we can carry out the design for you. Information that must be supplied for us to design (or approve your design) and Cost the scheme: a) Non-refundable deposit of 2,400 (inc Vat) b) Location Plan showing the site boundary, clearly indicating the development and route(s) of any water mains and your proposed alteration or diversion (scale 1:1250) c) Detailed site layout (1:5000), AutoCAD CD or electronically d) The extent of land in the developers ownership e) Area of adoption by the Highway Authority f) Soil Analysis Report If you require any further assistance please contact us at: Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Developer Services Department PO Box 3146 St Mellons Cardiff CF30 0EH Tel.No: Fax.No: developer.services@dwrcymru.com Following submission of your completed Application Forms, checklist items, design package (if designing yourself) and initial fee we will check them for completeness and acceptability. Incomplete applications will be returned to you for completion. 3

4 Design completed by you Upon receipt of your complete application we will make an initial assessment of the technical acceptability of your water mains and service pipes design. We will normally carry out this work within 20 working days. If any aspects are not technically acceptable we will notify you and you will have the option of rectifying any faults prior to resubmitting your application. When we are satisfied that the design is technically acceptable, we will notify you accordingly. Please note that we must approve any revisions to the design throughout the design and construction phase. Design completed by us If we are carrying out the design for you, we will base our design on the information you provide with your application, as listed in the checklist. We will send you the detailed drawing of our design and connection point when complete; normally this will be undertaken within 20 working days of receiving all information. Design Completion When design proposals are finalised, we will: a) Advise you of our estimated costs b) Request additional copies of your drawings (If designed by you) c) Inform you of the supporting information we require for inclusion in the legal Agreement. d) Inform you of our inspection procedures. 3. Following Successful Application Legal Agreement Once the application is successful, the developer and the chosen Self Lay Operator, (if applicable) will be required to enter into a Section 51A Legal Agreement for the construction of the main and services. All costs in the preparation of the Agreement are payable by the Developer. The Agreement will contain information about the specification, the net asset payment and retention for a Defects Correction Period (DCP). When the mains and associated apparatus have been constructed in accordance with the Agreement and the final inspection has taken place, our solicitor will be instructed to complete a Vesting Declaration Certificate (VDC). 4

5 Ownership of Water Mains For the avoidance of doubt, any water mains constructed under the self lay option remain the responsibility of the Developer/SLO until a VDC is issued. After the issuing of the VDC the ownership, operation and maintenance of the water mains rests with us. The Developer/SLO will remain responsible for any defective materials and workmanship for an agreed DCP Although ownership of the main and service pipes lies with DCWW, the Developer/SLO will be responsible for the protection of installed apparatus until such a time as the street is fully constructed. Ownership of Services The Developer/SLO may make service connections to a new live (connected) water main only with our approval. Ownership, operation and maintenance of the service connection and communication pipe rests with us from the time of connection to the new main. The Developer/SLO will remain responsible for any defective materials and workmanship for an agreed DCP (as defined in the agreement). We will not adopt the supply pipe. See figure 1below: Figure 1 Example service pipe layout to demonstrate terminology Boundary Premises C B Supply pipe Street boundary Stop tap and meter A Water main

6 SERVICE PIPE RESPONSIBILITY REGULATIONS OWNERSHIP MAINTENANCE A - B Communication pipe Stop tap and meter Utility Utility Utility Utility Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000 B C Supply pipe Internal Plumbing Property owner Property owner Property owner Property owner Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 NB. A - B - C as a whole is known as the Service Pipe. Any supply pipe laid over third party land is the responsibility of the property owner. Main laying Installation The Developer/SLO will undertake the construction of the new mains. We must be notified in advance of any changes from the approved design. These can only be carried out if agreed to by us. On completion of the main laying, the Developer/SLO must rectify any defects and provide us with installation details, including asset records. The connection of the new main with the existing main must be made by us. 4. Inspection and Supervision Inspection and Supervision during Construction We will inspect the site during the construction phase and require advance notification of the pressure test and chlorination of the water main so that these can be witnessed. Although the cost of normal inspections is included in our standard charge, we reserve the right to make a further charge for the cost of additional inspections if the Developer/SLO has to undertake remedial works or additional testing. 6

7 Inspection during the DCP We will carry out a Pre-DCP Inspection at the end of main laying and prior to connecting the new main to our existing main, which we require the Developer and the SLO to attend. We will issue you with a list of any remedial works required. The VDC will be issued by us when all the water mains covered by the legal agreement are laid and defect free. The asset value (if applicable) will be paid at this time. The issue of the VDC is the start date of the DCP. The SLO is entitled to carry out repairs to covers, frames and chambers. Any such defects will be offered to the SLO to rectify, within a maximum of 10 working days, subject to other legislation and regulations. The Developer/SLO shall pay for or rectify any defects and/or damage to any apparatus. We may carry out any repairs required to the main or services during the maintenance period in order to comply with standards of service and to ensure protection of public health and safety. The deposit will be held will be retained until the expiry of the DCP and will be used to cover the cost of us rectifying any defects that arise throughout the period. The Developer/SLO will pay the cost of rectifying any defects not covered by any shortfall in the deposit Final Inspection Prior to completion of the DCP, we will carry out a final inspection of the works and the Developer/SLO will be required to attend this inspection. We will subsequently notify you of all remedial works required and identify who can rectify them. On completion of the remedial works which you carry out, you must arrange for our further site inspection, the cost of which will be rechargeable. Following satisfactory inspection, and rectification of defects (if any), we will confirm that the DCP is over and take responsibility of the water main or services and release any remaining deposit held. 7

8 5. Summary of Costs The Developer or SLO will be responsible for the following costs: Costs payable to us a) The Commuted Sum b) Fee for approving the Developer/SLO design or the fee for us to produce a design for you. c) Any additional Inspection fees. d) Fee for the completion of the Legal Agreement (which will be charged at cost). e) Any associated transfer of rights over or acquisition of land. Legal Fees incurred in the process will be charged at cost. f) Any mains or service deposits as outlined in the Legal Agreement g) Any Non-Contestable works as outlined in our estimate letter. h) The service connection administration fee and water and sewerage infrastructure charges for every property, payable before the connection is made (Developer only). Other Costs incurred by the Developer or SLO a) Design and Construction of the Works Our Costs payable to the Developer or SLO a) The Asset Value if applicable. 8