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If you’re in the process of building your own home, you’ll likely need a new connection to the water main.
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In this guide, we’ll be explaining how you can arrange this and what you need to do before applying for a water supply to your new property.
There are a few key things you need to know and do before you’re ready to apply for a new water connection.
Before you or your developer applies for planning permission, it’s important to understand any potential challenges with supplying water to the site. United Utilities provides a free pre-planning assessment that requires the following information on your development:
A map showing the site boundary and preferred point of connection or site entrance.
The estimated date the water supply is required
Before applying for a new water connection, we would expect that you have had the planning permission for your new development site approved. If your development hasn’t yet had its planning permission approved, it’s important for you to get approval as any potential changes could interfere with the new water connection designs and plans.
This is so we know where you are hoping to lay the new service pipe to. If you’re unsure of where the nearest water main is, you can contact your local water supplier (United Utilities) to find out.
Once you have located this, you’ll need to provide us with a plan showing where you’re looking to law the new service pipe to.
Typically, a domestic properly is connected by a standard 25mm or 32mm water connection which provides a water flow rate of up to 1 litre per second and a 1.5 bar minimum pressure at the boundary stop tap. This is sufficient to supply a 2 storey house.
If your new home requires a different size connection, you’ll need to let us know what size pipe you are proposing to use.
If the installation process crosses any land owned by a third party, you’ll need to arrange permission for this, however, if the existing water main is within private land, we’ll arrange this with the land owner.
Before installing your new water connections, we need to make sure they won’t be contaminated from anything that may be left in the ground from previous use. You’ll need to arrange a Soil Analysis or Ground Investigation Report and this will need to be submitted as part of your application.
If you don’t have a completed report, we will need to install protective pipework. This is also required if your site is within 100m of a petrol station or industrial buildings.
In order for us to effectively plan and design your new water connections, you’ll need to provide us with a detailed site layout plan, preferably in the style of a CAD drawing as this allows us to be as accurate as possible.
To apply for a new water connection with National Energy Direct, you’ll need to provide us with the following:
A completed water connection application form
A location plan that shows the site boundary in relation to existing houses/roads as well as the proposed route of the new water service pipe
Soil Analysis/Ground Investigation
Once we have gathered all of the necessary information from you, we’ll design a detailed water connection plan and create a CAD drawing of the design for you to either approve, or suggest alterations.
From this point, we’ll then liaise with you and the local council about the legalities of the work and when all of this has been settled, the design will be sent to your local water supplier for approval.
Once everything has been approved and finalised, we’ll be able to schedule the work and provide you with an accurate timescale for the project.
The time it takes to complete a new water connection depends on a number of factors that must be assessed, however, typically you can expect the installation to take anywhere between 6-12 weeks.
Please note that these are just rough estimates and that your project may take longer depending on factors such as:
The time it takes to apply for, and be granted a permit to excavate on public ground.
Where the point of connection is located.
The cost for a new water connection varies depending on factors such as where the main is in relation to your property and whether or not the supply company needs to excavate unmade ground, pavements, or roads in order to make the connection.
With over 100 years’ experience in utility connections, our team of experienced industry professionals can guarantee that our work towards your project will be successfully delivered in a timely manner that is in line with the initial budget that you set out.
You can also expect us to be following the highest levels of safety compliance with industry standards, working to keep everyone safe from the very beginning.
At National Energy Direct, we’re a one-stop shop for all your utility needs. To arrange new water, gas or electricity (or all three) connections to your new property, simply get in touch with us and we can arrange to discuss exactly what it is you’re looking for and how we can help.
We’ll then visit your property to assess the complexity of the job and offer you an estimated timescale and price for the job to be completed.
Get in touch today using our contact page to recieve help from one of our energy experts
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