Important Changes to the Sewer Adoption Process

25 March 2016 13:07

The NI Assembly has introduced new legislation, the Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (as amended Water and Sewerage Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2016), to ensure that adequate provisions are made for the future adoption and maintenance of all sewers and lateral drains which connect to the public sewer network. Further details and guidance will be provided on www.niwater.com in due course.

From 23 May 2016, if you want to connect a new sewer or lateral drain to the existing public sewer network within NI Water’s operational area, approval to connect to a public sewer will be conditional on obtaining a sewer adoption agreement with NI Water. This is to ensure that in the future all private sewers and lateral drains connected to a public sewer will be adopted by NI Water.  The new legislation also permits NI Water to refuse surface water connections to the public sewer network, and the applicant to consider alternative means for disposal. The scope for adoption of development drainage systems, will also be extended to cover specified sustainable drainage components.

Developer Services are currently updating their Application Forms and Guidance notes taking into consideration the new legislation and the new Scheme of Charges.  These will be published on www.niwater.com on 1st April 2016, and may be further amended as the need arises.