Diversion of water mains

If your development site currently has a public water main within it, a diversion may be required to allow your development to progress.

Anyone with an interest in any land which contains a water main or associated apparatus has the right to request the alteration or removal, including diversion (generally referred to throughout this document as diversion) of that apparatus to accommodate proposed improvement of that land. This right is granted by Section 185 of the WIA91, and extends to anyone with an interest in adjacent land where the presence of water mains or apparatus would hinder proposed improvement. This does not apply to water mains in any public highway.

It should be noted that we do not allow building over any water mains or associated apparatus. Please click here for more information.

Pre Development Services

If you would like to understand the options which are available for the diversion of a water main and an estimate of the likely cost before you make a formal application to us, we can provide you with a budget estimate.

Please click here for more information on Pre Development Services

Application form

You can apply to divert a water main using our Application Form.

You will also need to complete the Risk Assessment for Water Pipes in Land Potentially Affected by Contamination form.

Please complete all sections and provide the information requested so that your application can be processed as quickly and accurately as possible.

Flowchart and charges

Information on our Developer Services Charging Arrangements can be found here.

Please view 'Customer Flowchart - Water Mains Diversions' for more information.

Our performance

Levels of Service
Our minimum standard for delivery will be in accordance with the Water UK Levels of Service.

 

Metric 

Target Timescale (days) 

Pre-development enquiry – reports issued

21

 

 
Redress - Adoption of clean water assets

Although we pride ourselves on the service we provide to our SLP customers, on occasion we may fall short.
For further information on these standards and to see our performance please click here.

Metric 

Target Timescale (days) 

Form of Redress

Self-lay point of connection -written acknowledgements issued within a period of 5 days commencing on the day after receipt confirming either that the application is completed or if not , requesting the missing information.  5 Contact from the Developer Services team to agree next steps
Self-lay Point of Connection reports <500 plots etc. - reports issued. Report to be issued within 21 days commencing on either (i) on the day after receipt of a full application or (ii) the day after the required information has been provided .   An application is full when all the required information and any required payment have been received .  A Pock enquiry includes any necessary modelling work.   21 Refund of that element of the application fee up to a maximum of £120 
Self-lay Point of connection reports >500 plots etc. - reports issued .Report to be issued within 28 days commencing on either (i) on the day after receipt of a full application or (ii) the day after the required information has been provided.  An application is full when all the required information and any required payment have been received   A PoC enquiry includes any necessary modelling work.  28 Refund of that element of the application fee up to a maximum of £120 
Self-lay design approval and terms request application - written acknowledgements . Issued within a period of 5 days commencing on the after receipt confirming either that the application is complete or if not ,requesting the missing information.  5 Contact from the Developer Services team to agree next steps 
Self-lay and terms requesting <500 plots etc. quotations. Written terms to be issued within a period of 14 days commencing on the day after receipt of as full application.  An application is full when all the required information has been received. Terms include the design approval ,the amount of the asset payment and any amount to be paid by the SLP or Developer . A self-lay Adoption Agreement is to be issued with the terms. Rejections should fully document the reason for the rejection.  14 Refund of that element of the application fee up to a maximum of £180
Self-lay and terms requesting >500 plots etc. quotations. written terms to be issued within a period of 14 days commencing on the day after receipt of a full application.  An application is full when all the required information has been received. Terms include the design approval ,the amount of the asset payment and any amount to be paid by the SLP or Developer . A self-lay Adoption Agreement is to be issued with the terms. Rejections should fully document the reason for the rejection.  28 Refund of that element of the application fee up to a maximum of £180 
Self-lay signed agreement - acknowledgements. Issued within a period of days commencing on the day after receipt of the signed agreement  5 Contact from the Developer Services team to agree next steps 
Self-lay water for pressure/bacteriological testing - provided. Provide a source of supply for pressure and bacteriological testing within (i) 28 days commencing on the day after receipt of a written request or 9ii0 such longer period as may be agreed with the SLP where there are engineering difficulties /requirements for off-site reinforcement/Schedule 13 WIA 1991 constraints or where the SLP requests an extended period.  28 £100 for each week up to a £2000 limit
Self-lay permanent water supply - provided. Provide a permanent supply connection within 14 days commencing on the day following notification in writing of satisfactory pressure and bacteriological testing of the self-lay mains.  14 £100 for each week up to a £2000 limit
Self-lay vesting certificates - issued . Issue vesting certificate and all information for Asset Payments claim (including on part constructed work) within 7 days commencing on the day following notification that the section of main has been connected.  7 Refund of that element of the application fee up to a maximum of £90
Self-lay Asset Payments - issued. Make Asset Payment due on all sections of connected mains within 35 days commencing on the day following receipt of a valid invoice claim by the SLP.  35 £100 (one off payment)
 Self-lay plot references and costing details. Issue plot reference information and costing details within 14 days commencing on the day following written notification of (service) connections call-off by the SLP. Costing details to specify all charges payable on each service connection, including infrastructure charges and the cost associated with the provision of meters and any fittings procured from the water company.  14 Refund of that element of the application fee up to a maximum of £11

When financial redress is applicable, payments will be sent back to customer who paid for the service within 60 days of the Levels of Service being published on Water UK’s website.

The redress scheme is a temporary arrangement, in line with the requirements of Ofwat's Code for Adoption Agreements. We are working with Water UK and all other companies to determine appropriate and consistent redress arrangements across the sector.

We will update our website on completion of this work.

Redress - Adoption of waste water assets

Although we pride ourselves on the service we provide to our SLP customers, on occasion we may fall short.

Metric 

Target Timescale (days) 

Form of Redress

Report on the number of written acknowledgements within target  14 Contact from the Developer Services team to agree next steps
Technical vetting - number of applications responded to in the period  28 (note S5.1 is including in this timescale) Contact from the Developer Services team to agree next steps
Technical vetting - number of applications responded to in the period extended by agreement  as agreed Contact from the Developer Services team to agree next steps
Legal agreements sent within period of target.  14 Contact from the Developer Services team to agree next steps

The redress scheme is a temporary arrangement, in line with the requirements of Ofwat's Code for Adoption Agreements. We are working with Water UK and all other companies to determine appropriate and consistent redress arrangements across the sector.

We will update our website on completion of this work.