While water companies have traditionally installed all new mains and services, you can now contract a self-lay provider (SLP) to carry out contestable main laying and connection work on your behalf. The SLP applies to us to carry out all, or some, of the contestable work and when it’s done, we’ll adopt the newly installed public assets.
SLPs aren’t the only providers who can do this work; you can also approach a new appointment and variation (NAV) and, of course, you can still requisition new mains and service connections directly from us. But if you do decide to complete the work under a self-lay agreement, you’ll need to use a WIRS accredited self-lay provider.
Learn more about the self-lay journey below.
Self-lay providers
If you’re a self-lay provider (SLP) or you’re looking to employ an SLP to lay new water infrastructure, you’ll need to make sure the self-lay works follow Ofwat’s ‘Codes for Adoption’.
Your self-lay journey
Click on the tabs below to find out what you need to do – and what we’ll do – at each stage of your journey. You might also want to take a look at the Water Sector Guidance on the official Codes for Adoption.
Before you apply
What to think about before you apply:
- Do you need to confirm the point of connection to the site? (See Step 1).
- Have you chosen an accredited SLP and a competent principal designer?
- Have you read our Annual Contestability Summary to understand what work the SLP can do?
- Do you want the SLP or Yorkshire Water to design the main scheme?
- What was the previous use of the land you’re developing on? (Greenfield or brownfield?)
- If the land is brownfield, have you had a contamination assessment done?
- Do you know what size connections you need? (Household connections are usually 25mm).
- Are you eligible for a reduction to your infrastructure charges?
- Will you be installing any water re-use systems? (E.g. rainwater, boreholes/springs or grey water?)
- Is your development project notifiable to the HSE? (If so, we’ll need a copy of your F10 Notice).
Mains scheme estimate calculator
Calculate a free estimate for works on a large development site, including new water main installations and individual plot connections. Ideal for professional developers and self-lay providers.
This is a .xlsx document which can be opened with Microsoft Excel.
Step 1: Confirm point of connection (optional)
At the detailed planning stage of development, you can submit a point of connection (POC) enquiry to confirm the point(s) where a self-laid main can be connected to our existing mains network. In response, we’ll provide you with a POC report that’s valid for 12 months.
What you need to do:
- Fill out a POC enquiry form using the link below.
- Make sure you include all the supporting documents we need – these are listed in the form.
- Pay the application fee: £229.20 (incl. VAT).
What we’ll do:
- Get back to you within 5 days to let you know we’ve got everything, or if we’re missing any details.
- Provide you with a full POC report within 14 days of receiving your enquiry (or within 28 days if your site is complex).
Just so you know, you can go straight to Step 2 without making a POC enquiry, but please bear in mind that if you apply without a valid POC report, we’ll need some additional time (14/28 days) to confirm the POC before we can prepare a quote.
Make a point of connection enquiry online
You can also download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Step 2: Apply
What you need to do at this stage depends on whether you want the SLPor Yorkshire Water to design the mains scheme – you’ll need to specify this in your application. Just bear in mind that there is an upfront design fee if you want us to do the design, or a smaller design checking fee if the SLP is designing the scheme.
| What you need to do | SLP to design | YW to design |
|---|---|---|
| Design the mains scheme to our Design and Construction Specification (DCS). | Yes | No |
| Consult with the relevant fire service about your mains scheme design. | Yes | No |
| Fill out an application using the link below, and attach all the supporting documents we need (these are listed in the form and Appendix E of the Water Sector Guidance). | Yes | Yes |
| Pay the application fee: £344.40 (incl. VAT). | Yes | Yes |
| Pay the design fee: 1-100 properties: £1,725.60 (incl. VAT) / 101-200 properties: £2,175.60 (incl. VAT) / 201+ properties: £2,853.60 (incl. VAT) / NAV site: £272.40 (incl. VAT) | No | Yes |
| Pay the design checking fee: 1-100 properties: £228 (incl. VAT) / 101-200 properties: £303.60 (incl. VAT) / 201+ properties: £379.20 (incl. VAT) / NAV site: £189.60 (incl. VAT) | Yes | No |
What we’ll do:
- Get back to you within 5 days to let you know we’ve got everything, or if we’re missing any details
- Provide you with a quote, a self-lay agreement and a source of water confirmation form within the following timeframes, based on your request, the complexity of your site, and whether you have a valid POC report (see Step 1).
| Site complexity | Who’s designing the works? |
Response time (with valid POC report) |
Response time (no valid POC report) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non-complex | SLP | 14 days * | 28 days * |
| Non-complex | Yorkshire Water | 28 days | 42 days |
| Complex | SLP | 21 days * | 49 days * |
| Complex | Yorkshire Water | 42 days | 70 days |
* If we have to request changes to the SLP design, the time it takes you to respond will be added to this timescale.
Apply online to self-lay a water main and service connection
You can also download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Step 3: Sign the agreement & pay your quote
What you need to do:
Please submit the following to get the works booked in:
- Signed self-lay agreement
- Source of water confirmation form
- Payment of the quote
Please be aware, if you are working on behalf of a NAV, the NAV will need to have signed a bulk supply agreement for the site before we can proceed. They can apply for this using the NAV application form: yorkshirewater.com/developers/navs
What we’ll do:
- Process your payment and send you a VAT receipt within 24 hours of clearance. (Please bear in mind that it may take up to a week for a payment to clear).
- Counter-sign and return a copy of the self-lay agreement, confirming the source of water delivery date, within 7 days of receiving the above.
- Provide details needed for the SLP to carry out an under-pressure connection (if relevant).
- Pass the work order to our delivery team, Network Plus.
- Call you within 7 days of receiving the above to arrange a pre-start meeting with you.
- Come to meet you on site as arranged to discuss the upcoming works.
Step 4: Construct & install the new main
What you need to do:
- Construct and install the self-laid main to DCS standard.
- During construction, submit a weekly whereabouts form every Thursday detailing the following week’s planned activities.
- Provide us with 1 weeks’ notice of your intention to chlorinate and pressure-test the mains, along with the as-laid drawings for the section of main you’re testing – these drawings must adhere to section 16 our DCS.
- Chlorinate and pressure-test the new main, and obtain a chlorination certificate and UKAS-accredited sample results.
- Submit your chlorination certificate, pressure-test results and sample results (please also provide the relevant as-laid drawings if they have not already been provided).
What we’ll do:
- Make the off-site branch connection to provide a source of water.
- Monitor your progress and conduct inspections based on your submitted weekly whereabouts form.
- Visit your site to inspect the mains against the as-laid drawings you’ve submitted. If you’ve submitted these in advance, we’ll aim to carry out the inspection prior to, or on the day of, your chlorination.
- Assess your chlorination notification and let you know if it’s acceptable.
- Update our records with your as-laid details.
Step 5: Connect the mains
What you need to do (SLP to connect the mains):
- Submit your request to connect the mains using the application link below, at least 7 days in advance of the final connection date (this application is free of charge).
- Wait to receive our approval before carrying out the final connection.
- Provide us with confirmation of the final connection within 1 day of completion.
What we’ll do (SLP to connect the mains)
- Review your request to connect the mains and supporting documents.
- Confirm in writing if you can go ahead with the final connection or not within 5 days of receiving your completed application.
Apply online to self-lay routine in-line mains connections
You can also download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
If you’ve applied for us to chlorinate and connect the mains:
What we’ll do (YW to connect the mains)
- Confirm the date for final connection.
- Make the final connection of the mains.
Step 6: We adopt the new main
What you need to do:
- Ensure cover levels are achieved/maintained.
- If the SLP has designed the main scheme, they need to inform the local fire service about any fire hydrants that have been installed on site.
- Let us know of any leakage or accidental damage to our assets.
- If there has been damage, carry out the necessary defect correction.
What we’ll do:
- Issue a vesting declaration within 5 days of the final connection.
- Produce and issue a completion certificate once all the mains are vested.
Step 7: Make the service connections
What you need to do:
- Email your weekly whereabouts form to SLP_Mailin@yorkshirewater.co.uk to let us know of your intention to make the service connections to the new water mains on site.
- If you need to make any service connections to an existing main, you must apply using the link below (this is free of charge).
Apply online to self-lay service connections to existing mains
You can also download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Order your water meters, making sure they align with our DCS standard. If you’d like to order water meters from us, you can do so by completing a self-lay bulk meter request form.
- Provide us with your meter details and notification of your service connections via the self-lay meter installation form within 1 day (for non-household properties) or 5 days (for household properties) of connection.
- Submit your weekly whereabouts form during the connection work.
What we’ll do:
- Monitor your progress and conduct inspections based on your submitted weekly whereabouts form.
- Supply water meters for collection / delivery (if requested).
- Provide confirmation of our consent for you to make the connections.
- Invoice you for any water meters requested, along with the relevant admin fee.
- Invoice you the relevant admin fee for processing and reporting your meter installation details.
- Invoice you for the infrastructure charges due at this stage.
Step 8: Final inspection
What you need to do:
- Ensure the final cover levels are achieved/maintained and adjust where necessary.
- Attend the final inspection – this takes place 12 months after adoption.
- Correct any identified defects.
What we’ll do:
- Arrange to come and do a final inspection on site (12 months after adoption).
- Correct any identified defects that affect water supply, and issue invoices for the corrective works.
- Confirm that all the works have been completed.
Supporting documentation and guidance
Design standards & technical requirements
There are certain minimum requirements that we expect SLPs to follow when planning, designing and installing new water mains and connections. These are laid out in the documents below.
Design and Construction Specification (DCS)
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Annual Contestability Summary (ACS)
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Water quality requirements document
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Water UK principles of water supply hygiene
Learn more about water supply hygiene here.
Additional request & notification forms
You’ll find any additional request and notification forms you may reasonably be required to complete during your self-lay journey below.
Re-design / re-approval request form
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Source of water confirmation form
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
This is a .xlsx document which can be opened with Microsoft Excel.
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Self-lay bulk meter request form
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
NAV bulk meter information form
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Asset value payment request form
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Minimum information requirements & levels of service
This document sets out the minimum information requirements and levels of service expected under the Codes for Adoption, in line with Appendices E and G of the Water Sector Guidance.
Minimum information requirements & levels of service
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Our quarterly performance metrics regarding levels of service are published by Water UK.
Local practice
This document sets out our local practice with regard to the water asset adoption procedures published in the Water Sector Guidance.
Yorkshire Water local practice
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Model water adoption agreement
This is a copy of the Model Water Adoption Agreement approved by Ofwat under the Codes for Adoption, to be entered into by Yorkshire Water, the SLP, the developer, the landowner (if different from the developer) and any affected adjoining landowners.
Model water adoption agreement
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Deviations to the Model Water Adoption Agreement
For the period 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, Yorkshire Water did not deviate from the Sectoral Guidance or the Model Water Adoption Agreement for any new mains schemes.
Redress policy
Our redress policy sets out our procedure for responding to failures to meet levels of service metrics within the Codes for Adoption, including our timescales and wider complaints process.
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Contact details
General enquiries
Please visit our get in touch page.
Enquiries about a specific application
For enquiries relating to a specific application you have submitted, please email newmains@yorkshirewater.co.uk, including your case reference number in the subject line.
Enquiries about on-site activities
Once your application has been approved and you have entered into a self-lay agreement with us, one of our site inspectors will contact you directly to arrange a site meeting. If you have any enquiries about subsequent on-site activities, please contact your designated site inspector.
Enquiries about our self-lay services and procedures
Please contact one of the following: