Let us guide you through the formal process of applying for new connections to water mains and site waste water services (sewerage for the site), outlining the work required as part of the application.

Application forms

All application forms and guides are available in this section

Design

Remember: Ensure that your applications are supported by appropriate design calculations. Design must include all the necessary consultations with roads authorities, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), fire authorities and other relevant bodies.

Designs will include any required diversions of our existing infrastructure. The published guidance documents: ‘Sewers for Scotland’ and ‘Water for Scotland’ are available from WRC.

Important: Scottish Water will normally grant design approval within 28 working days of receipt of an acceptable application.

Payment

Our Infrastructure Charges, inspection fees and building water charges will be advised at the time of design approval and should be paid before you start work on site. For details of our charges please refer to our current Planning and Development Services leaflet.

Contribution agreements

For eligible sites, Scottish Water will make a reasonable cost contribution towards the cost of new connections.  Regulations put in place by the Scottish Executive determine the level of contribution we make, Details of the arrangements for and condition of payment are shown in our Guide for obtaining new water and waste water services.

Installation of your site infrastructure

Remember: You are responsible for engaging your own contractors to construct water and waste water infrastructure on your site. For water infrastructure, please see our list of approved 'Self-Lay Contractors'. Please also note that for waste water infrastructure you are required to employ a competent contractor.

Adoption of your site infrastructure by Scottish Water

Until Scottish Water has made a commitment to adopt the site infrastructure at the time of design approval you will remain responsible for the repair and maintenance of the water mains and sewers on your site, together with any pumping station, SUDS schemes and other ancillaries, for the duration of what is referred to as the “defects liability period”.

Remember: We will only adopt infrastructure when we are fully satisfied that all our strict requirements have been met.

The defects liability period is 12 months or until the final house/property on your development is connected, whichever is the later, except SUDS which have a 36 month defects liability period.