Domestic Development

Notice of Changes to applications for Building Water for Domestic Development as of 1 April 2011

The Water Industry Commission for Scotland consulted on arrangements in the retail market, in particular on arrangements governing connections activities. The Commission's consultative process has included Licensed Providers currently operating in the Retail Market, representatives of the developer community and Scottish Water.

One of the areas for consultation included building water. In the light of feedback received, the Commission has decided that applications for building water for domestic developments will from 1 April 2011 transfer to Scottish Water.

As of 1 April 2011, all applications for building water for domestic development, should therefore be directed to Scottish Water. This will include applications for all elements of the domestic development and will include the following:

• Building Water temporary connection and disconnection
• Building Water supply only
• Temporary connection for Welfare facilities/site offices
• Temporary connection for Sales Offices/Marketing suites

All applications for the above should be applied via application to connect to the public water main (DWC1) form which can be found by clicking here.

(Scottish Water will in due course be making changes and amendments to this particular form and will provide update at that time).

If you wish to discuss any aspect of this communication, please direct your enquiry either to Customer.Connectionssupport@scottishwater.co.uk. or telephone 0141 355 5511.

 

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Reasonable Cost Contribution (RCC) for domestic development customers

What is 'Reasonable Cost Contribution' in relation to new development connections to the public infrastructure?

Financial contributions are defined within legislation, in accordance with the Water Industry (Scotland) Act 2002, Scottish Water is required to meet the costs of providing strategic capacity required for new developments (Part 4 infrastructure) and Customers are required to meet the costs of providing additional local capacity (Part 2 and 3 infrastructure), subject to a reasonable cost contribution from Scottish Water.

What are the current maximum values of contribution per house?

These values are reviewed on an annual basis through our Regulator, The Water Industry Commissions (WICS).

The maximum value of contribution for new domestic adoptable sewerage infrastructure is up to £1657.00 per house.

The maximum value of contribution for new domestic adoptable water infrastructure is up to £1466.00 per house.

(Figures current as of 21 March 2011)

Please note - Each development project will have a reasonable cost figure calculated at the design technical audit stage. The figure agreed can vary at any level up to the maximum contribution figure stated, depending on the calculation outcome. When assessing development budgets, do not assume that your development will be eligible for the maximum contribution per property.

What determines the information to contribute to the calculation?

The Provision of Water and Sewerage Services (Reasonable Cost) (Scotland) Regulations 2006, determine what that reasonable cost contribution should be, by specifying what matters are to be taken into, or left out of, account in calculating the contribution and also by specifying the method of calculation.

The Regulations clarify how the costs of different elements of each new connection are shared between customers and Scottish Water.

The costs associated with all new Part 1 infrastructure are the sole responsibility of the customer.

Extensions or upgrades to the Part 2 or Part 3 elements of the existing water and waste water networks will be funded by the customer, subject to a contribution from us, to take account of the future income that will be received from the new connection. This information will directly contribute to the calculation used to confirm the level of contribution from Scottish Water for all related Part 2 or Part 3 costs.

A contribution is available for all new connections whether a new development or a first time connection to an existing property. However, it is not available for the adoption of existing private assets or for the upgrading of existing private infrastructure to adoptable standards.

How are the 'Parts' of a connection defined?

Part 1: The connection from individual premises to a water main or sewer.

Part 2: The water mains and sewers that connect developments e.g. a street of houses to
trunk mains and trunk sewers and some sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDS).

Part 3: The local bulk infrastructure, such as trunk mains and trunk sewers, water service reservoirs, waste water pumping systems and some SUDS.

Part 4: The strategic assets such as raw water intakes, water impounding reservoirs, raw water pumping stations and aqueducts, and water and waste water treatment works.

Do you have further questions?

If you have any further enquiries regarding:

• General RCC policy
• A specific development site
• Non-Domestic RCC policy for Retail development

Please contact the Customer Connections department directly through the following points of contact, and your enquiry will be referred to a member of the Customer Connections team.

E-mail - connections@scottishwater.co.uk

Telephone - Customer Connections helpline - Central Support Team on 0141 355 5511

Written - Customer Connections -

Scottish Water
Customer Connections
419 Balmore Road
Glasgow
G22 6NU

Alternatively further RCC process and policy detail can be obtained within section 7 (pages 20-23) of our Customer Guide