Contestable and non-contestable work
Contestable work
- Designing on-site water systems in accordance with water companies’ specifications (except sizing pipes below).
- Installing on-site mains.
- Installing off-site mains in third party land and highways where the developer or SLO has obtained the necessary easements and street authority approvals and satisfied any other legal requirements.
- Routine in-line mains connections, subject to relevant safeguards and accreditation schemes being in place.
- Installing extensions and the new part of diversions to new development sites, where the developer or SLO has the necessary permissions and no existing customers will be affected, or there are no engineering reasons why this work should be non-contestable.
- Installing service pipes to new mains, according to water company specifications.
- Connecting service pipes to new mains (after the water company has commissioned the new mains), provided the appropriate standards are met and there are no risks to existing customers. See also the guidance on timing of service pipe connections.
- Connecting service pipes to new mains on development sites installed by water companies or other SLOs.
- Connecting service pipes directly to existing off-site mains, subject to appropriate accreditation and caveats.
- Swabbing, disinfecting and pressure testing new mains, under supervision by the water company.
- Fitting water meters to water company specifications and subject to water company approval.
- Provision of as-laid drawings to water company specification.
Non-contestable work
- Designing off-site water systems.
- Sizing pipes – water companies can retain responsibility for this part of the design work.
- Approving on-site water system designs.
- Off-site work to reinforce the existing network.
- Connections that involve risks to existing customers.
- Mains connections other than those specified under contestable work.
- Water sampling and quality testing.
- Decommissioning redundant mains following a diversion.
