Self Lay Procedure

1. Advanced enquiry stage

The developer or the SLO makes contact with water company to confirm the feasibility of supplying the proposed development and provides the information necessary for the water company to do a technical evaluation. The water company confirms its ability to supply, and specifies the point of connection and validity period of the information.

2. Application stage

The developer or SLO makes a full application by submitting all the required information, together with a completed application form to the water company.

3. Design stage

The developer or SLO either submits the design of the water network to the water company for vetting, or the developer or SLO requests that the water company designs the water network.

The water company sends details of the estimated asset payment, non-contestable charges, security and legal agreement to the developer or SLO.

4. Self-lay notification

Following the

• pre-start meeting
• return of signed legal agreement
• payment of relevant charges

the developer or SLO submits the notification to start to lay mains to the water company.

5. Main-laying installation

The SLO constructs new water mains, notifying the water company of any changes and of the intended testing and disinfection dates. The water company audits and inspects construction, and may witness testing of the new main.

6. Main-laying completion

The SLO completes main-laying to the required specification and rectifies any defects identified during the inspection and audit. The SLO provides the water company with the ‘as laid’ drawings and test certificates. The water company arranges the main connection, issues the vesting certificate and makes the asset payment to the developer or SLO. The maintenance period starts from date of commissioning.

7. Service connection notification

The Developer or SLO submits notification to lay services in accordance with the water company’s self-lay arrangements. The notification is only issued after the developer or SLO confirms that the private pipework has been checked or self-certified as meeting the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations.

8. Service connection installation

The SLO makes the service connections in accordance with the previously issued notification, and either fits water meters or requests that the water company fits meters. The SLO then provides fill details of each connection, including the postal address, and meter details (if fitted) to the water company.

9. Protection of installed apparatus

The developer or SLO makes sure that all installed apparatus is protected against damage until the development is completed and roads or footpaths are fully constructed.