First of all, a public sewer can be in either private property or in the Highway. We would estimate that 90% of the sewer connections we do are in the public Highway, but the Water Authority doesn’t mind if you connect in the Highway or in private property, it’s a bit irrelevant to them. In the event that the public sewer where the connection is to be made, is in private property and that private property belongs to you and/or to the property that is being connected to the public sewer, that’s nearly always the simplest and cheapest of connections. In the event that the public sewer is in private property but belongs to somebody else, not only will you need their permission of course, but you will normally need a legal agreement between the two of you. And just like you need a legal agreement to connect onto the public sewer in somebody else’s private property, you need permission from Highways to connect onto a public sewer that is in the Highway – this is done by way of a Section 50 Application to Highways, more info on that here.
Regardless of whether the connection is to be done in private property or in the Highway, there are three main methods of connection, these are:
Connection by Junction insertion – by far the most common and one of the cheapest methods.
A junction Insertion will normally be of a ‘vitrified clay’ type, especially in the event that the existing sewer is clay.
A junction insertion is generally used on sewer diameters of up to 300mm (internal diameter)
Connection by ‘Saddle’ – not so common, but similar in cost to a Junction Insertion.
Saddles can either be clay or HDPE, with different Water Authorities having different preferences.
A saddle connection is only normally permitted on sewer diameters of 375mm and above (internal diameter)
Direct Connection into a manhole – a bit more costly than above. Even in the event that there is a manhole in the vicinity of where the new connection is needed, a connection by way of junction insertion or saddle connection, is usually acceptable. Connection into a manhole is often required though, for 2 properties or more.
Connection into a newly constructed manhole – the most costly of all and more likely in the case of larger developments. In the event that connection into a manhole is required, but that a manhole does not exist within the vicinity, then construction of a new manhole is usually required.
When we apply for a Section 106 to the Water Authority on your behalf, we will always request the connection method that is the most cost effective, whilst also being suitable in relation to the specifics of the site and the existing sewer.
In the event that you already have a Section 106, and a connection method has been nominated, but that there is a cheaper alternative, we will always approach the Water Authority on your behalf and apply for a change of method of connection.
In the event that you need a sewer connection doing please contact us as soon as possible!
You’ll be surprised how many people build a house and then ask us to start the sewer connection process, whereas this process needs starting ideally when the build starts. Click here for more information on ‘How Long Does a Sewer Connection Take?’
By JWC
