If you would like to put forward newly constructed or existing sewers and associated assets for adoption, the Sewer Adoptions team will be happy to guide you through the process. We will ensure that the assets proposed are designed and constructed to meet the required standards to allow them to be adopted into Yorkshire Water as public assets. We will take ownership of the network and assets from the developer who constructed and installed it.
Water companies in England can now adopt a wider range of sewer types, under OFWATs Sewerage Sector Guidance Code for Adoption. All sites put forward for adoption must now be designed and constructed in accordance with the Design and Construction Guidance, Local Practices and Technical Standards contained within the Code for Adoption.
The inclusion of guidance as to which sustainable drainage systems (“SuDS”) are capable of adoption as sewers, is very much aligned to our environmental ethos here at Yorkshire Water. We want the assets that we take ownership of through the adoption process to contribute to our overarching strategies, policies and performance commitments by:
- managing surface water sustainably on the surface
- creating resilience to climate change
- increasing bio-diversity net gain
- contributing to net zero carbon
Our Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS) Design Guidance sets out the key principles for design of SuDS assets to be vested in Yorkshire Water.
Drainage systems considered at the earliest stages of site selection and design are easier to integrate into developments influencing other aspects of the site such as design, layout and function, and thereby reducing impermeable areas wherever possible. Successful designs need to consider local policy documents developed by the Local Planning Authority and should take into account the Local Flood Risk Management Strategy.
We encourage early and effective engagement during your planning and pre planning stages of the development, so please come and talk to us so we can work together to help deliver sustainable developments for the future.
Our Developers Guide to the Adoption and Vesting of New Sewers (S104) provides all of the information that you need when offering new sewers and sewerage assets for adoption and an overview of the vesting process and requirements once your development site has reached 51% occupancy. It also reinforces Yorkshire Water’s approach and requirements to adopting surface water components which is very much aligned to CIRIA C753 ‘The SuDS Manual’.
Yorkshire Water is the Statutory Sewerage Undertaker for the Yorkshire Region. However, if you wish you can approach a New Appointment and Variation (NAV) to adopt your sewer network. For further details, please refer to the Ofwat website.
Developers guide to the adoption and vesting of new sewers
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Looking to apply retrospectively?
Adoption of New Sewers (S104)
We encourage early and effective engagement during your planning and pre planning stages of the development, so please come and talk to us so we can work together to help deliver sustainable developments for the future.
The adoption of sewers and sewerage assets is contained within S104 of the Water Industry Act 1991. This covers the adoption of private sewers to be constructed at a future date subject to an Agreement with the Sewerage Undertaker. Once adopted, they become public sewers and will be operated and maintained by Yorkshire Water.
Sewerage assets offered for adoption, should be designed and constructed in accordance with the Design and Construction Guidance, Local Practices and Technical Standards contained within the Code for Adoption.
You will need:
- A location plan
- S104 layout plan
- Longitudinal sections
- Hydraulic design
- Manhole schedule
- Construction details
- Surface water systems drawings
- Land transfer and ownership documentation
- Any other information that could support your application.
You can also download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
The sewerage sector guidance procedure
The Sewerage Sector Guidance procedure for the adoption of new sewers and sewerage assets is outlined below, along with the relevant forms for completion.
Stage 1a: Pre-planning enquiry
As part of the pre-planning process, we have a requirement to ensure the effective inclusion of different sustainable drainage features and that the management train of features is considered on new development sites. We would therefore like to draw your attention to the CIRIA SuDS Manual which provides an overview of the concept of SuDS, which components are adoptable as sewers and the benefits these would bring to your development site and the local environment. By working together, we can integrate surface water management into the design of new developments, thereby protecting our environment and creating high quality places for our customers to enjoy.
Submit a pre-planning enquiry online
You can also download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Stage 1b: Pre-design discussion
To request a pre-design discussion with us, please download, complete and return this request form to us along with the supporting information. This is highly recommended prior to submission of an application, to ensure our requirements are clear and any issues with a site can be addressed at an early stage.
Pre-design discussion request form
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Stage 2: Design of new sewerage system
To submit an application, you can either download a form or make an application online.
Apply online for sewer adoption
You can also download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Stage 3: Adoption agreement
On your instruction we will prepare the Model Sewer Adoption Agreement for your site. Please download, complete and return this request form to us along with the supporting information.
Request to prepare engrossed agreement form
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
However, if you wish to prepare the Model Sewer Adoption Agreement yourself and return it to us for signing, please download, complete and return the completed agreement to us along with the supporting information. Please read our developers guide to preparing a model sewer adoption agreement for help completing the agreement.
Model sewer adoption agreement
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Developers guide to preparing a model sewer adoption agreement
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Stage 4: Construct gravity sewerage system
On receipt of Conditional and/or Technical Acceptance for your site, you may now request a Pre-start Inspection Meeting with one of our site inspectors. Please download, complete and return this request form to us along with the supporting information.
Pre-start inspection request form
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Stage 5: Maintenance period
Once the sewers and associated assets put forward for adoption have been constructed in accordance with the Technically Accepted drawings incorporated in the S104 Agreement, outstanding remedial work has been completed and the site has reached 51% occupancy (or achieved the desired discharge rate), you can now request a Pre Maintenance inspection.
If you would like to request a pre-maintenance inspection of your site, please download, complete and return this request form to us along with the supporting information.
Pre-maintenance inspection form
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Stage 6: Final inspection and vesting
Once your site is within three months of the end of its maintenance period, has been operating as expected during this time (with no operational issues) and there are no outstanding remedial works to complete, you can start to make preparations for the Final Inspection.
If you would like to request a Final Inspection of your site, please download, complete and return this request form to us along with the supporting information.
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Stage 7: Variation of new sewerage system
If you would like to request a variation to the Technically Accepted drawings contained within the signed S104 Agreement for your site, please download, complete and return this request form along with the supporting information.
Request for a variation to the new sewerage system
You can download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Please do not start any construction works on site until you have received Conditional and / or Technical Acceptance of your design proposals from us. If you do, the works are undertaken entirely at your own risk and cost. You cannot have an inspection from us until Conditional and / or Technical Acceptance has been issued for the site.
Our Developers Guide to the Adoption and Vesting of New Sewers provides all of the information that you need when offering new sewers and sewerage assets for adoption and an overview of the vesting process and requirements once your development site has reached 51% occupancy.
Developers guide to the adoption and vesting of new sewers
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
More developer guides you may find useful
Developers guide to requesting a novation
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Developers guide to requesting a variation
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Developers guide to requesting a termination
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Typical manhole detail drawings
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Yorkshire Water requirements for easements
You can read this document in your browser or download it.
Adoption of Existing Sewers (S102)
Section 102 of the Water Industry Act 1991 covers the adoption of existing private sewers and sewerage assets. Only the legal owners of a private sewer (including pumping stations and other ancillaries) can put them forward for adoption and therefore the applicant must be able to prove ownership. The sewers and sewerage assets put forward must conform to our adoption requirements. Once adopted, they become public sewers and will be operated and maintained by Yorkshire Water.
Our Developers Guide to the Adoption and Vesting of Existing Sewers (S102) provides all of the information that you need when offering existing private sewers and sewerage assets for adoption.
You can apply online using our online application portal, or you can download and submit your application form.
You will need:
- A location plan
- S102 layout plan
- Longitudinal sections
- Manhole schedule
- Construction details
- Camera survey
- Surface water systems drawings
- Any other information that could support your application.
You can also download and print this PDF or fill it out using Adobe Acrobat Reader.