Adopting proposed sewerage systems - S104

If you are applying for a new sewer connection and the sewer is outside of your property boundary, or it serves more than one building, then you’ll need to:

• ask us to enter an adoption agreement with you first before building
• build what is called a ‘lateral drain’, which will connect your property to our sewer

You can identify whether the sewer is outside or inside your property boundary by visiting our sewer connection page here.

For single properties, our guidance notes can be found here.

For multiple properties, our guidance notes can be found here.

Once you’ve taken a read of the guidance notes and are comfortable that you meet our guidelines, give us more details on your development via the application form. This application form is also known as a ‘section 104’ or ‘s104’ application.

One of our team will then be able to offer you help and advice.

How much will it cost?

The charges related to this service are split between an inspection fee, which also covers technical vetting of your design, and a legal fee for the drafting of the legal agreement. These fees are variable, dependent on the specifics of each scheme, and are only requested after we have reviewed and accepted your proposed design.

For new sewerage that doesn’t need an adoptable pumping station, the inspection fee is based on the number of properties:

£680.63 for one property (lateral drain)

£1,287.88 for 2-5 properties

£2,096.82 for 6-25 properties

£3,502.41 for more than 25 properties

Where a new pumping station needs to be adopted, the inspections fee is based on the number of properties:

£3,001.76 for one property (lateral drain)

£3,609.01 for 2-5 properties

£4,417.95 for 6-25 properties

£5,823.54 for more than 25 properties

The legal fee depends on the type of documents needed, and what needs to be registered with land registry. For example, an agreement for a lateral drain only, with no associated Deed of Grant of Easement, has a fee starting at £205.32.

A refundable surety/bond is secured as part of the legal agreement. The surety/bond is released following successful completion of a defects liability period after completion of the works.

For information on our charges, visit our schedule of charges here.

Regulation to be aware of

• You will probably need to have any new private sewers adopted by us that will connect to a public sewer.
• If you want to build a lateral drain to connect to a public sewer which is located outside your new property boundary, you will probably need to apply for an adoption agreement with us before any installation work begins, in line with the Water Industry Act 1991.
• Sewers must comply with the mandatory standards set out in The Welsh Ministers Standards for Gravity Foul Sewers and Lateral Drains.
• Adoptable surface water sewers and lateral drains should comply with the standards set out within the Design Guide ‘Sewers for Adoption 7th Edition'.
• If you want more information on sewer adoption regulation, visit our help and advice page here. 

Don’t forget

• As well as asking us to adopt your new sewerage system, you will need to apply for a sewer connection.