If you need a new water connection, here's an overview of the process and how to get an idea of pricing. If you're unsure if you need a new connection, please visit our help page.
Before you start, check we're your water supplier using the postcode checker from Water UK.
Once you've applied for your new water service connection, our design estimators will conduct research on the local network and its capcity, to provide you with a quote.
After you’ve paid for your quote, your own plumber needs to lay the pipework from your house to your property boundary according to the specifics listed on your quote and point of entry diagram. If your plumber is not WaterSafe approved, we’ll need to inspect the pipework to make sure it’s compliant with UK water regulations. If your plumber is WaterSafe approved, they can self-certify their work and you won’t need an inspection.
We’ll then connect your pipework to a water main near your property.
Connecting to the main involves construction works, using specialist equipment to dig a deep trench in verges, footways and carriageways. Traffic management is sometimes needed to keep our workers safe. This can include temporary traffic lights, road closures and the suspension of bus stops/lanes.
To complete the works, we must establish an agreement with permitting stakeholders first. This could be the local authority or Transport for London, if your works impacts on their network.
We aim to complete your connection within four months of establishing this agreement. It can take longer if the work requires difficult or extensive traffic management.
For a full breakdown of the process, see our new water connection process page.
The cost of a connection varies greatly, and depends on many factors, including:
Ofwat regulates how much water companies charge for their services. They publish the median cost of UK connection charges to give you a basic idea of the cost of new water service connections. Please note, that construction costs in and around London are likely to be higher, and there are other charges required in addition to the prices listed on Ofwat’s website which you’ll find in our charging arrangements below.
Our charging arrangements can help you create an estimation of your new water connection, however, is an indicative cost only. A quote, which is created by our design engineers will give you specific prices based on your requirements and our network capacity. Please note, these charges are updated on 1 April each year.
Using the contents section of the charging document, find the ‘service connections’ page which is listed under ‘water charging arrangements’.
To protect our water supply from contamination, the quote we provide you may specify that you use a special barrier pipe when you lay your pipework. This is likely near garage blocks, petrol stations, cemeteries, railways, industrial sites and other areas where contamination may happen. You’ll notice that there are two different sections for the charges for barrier pipe and non-barrier pipe.
To estimate your costs, you’ll need to add up the following items listed in the charging arrangements:
To estimate how much pipe you’ll be quoted for, you’ll need to calculate how far your property boundary is from the nearest water main. To purchase a site plan for the area, you can contact your local authority or purchase a map from our property searches team. However, we’ll always strive to make sure you get enough water pressure, so it’s not always possible to connect you to the nearest mains supply. We recommend applying for a new connection and our design engineers will create a quote for you.
In some scenarios, you may be able to use a self-lay provider to complete some of your construction work to our mains supply. Once you’ve applied for a new water connection, the quote we send you will advise on whether you can appoint a self-lay provider. Learn more about self-lay providers.
You’ll need to apply for a new water connection in both of these circumstances. It may be cheaper to install manifold connections if you only require a 25mm external (20mm internal) diameter connection.
Our charges cover our work in laying new pipework from our water main to your property boundary.
We’re not able to provide an accurate cost without one of our design engineers providing you with a quote. See our charging arrangements for a breakdown of all of our costs.
You’ll need to apply for a new water connection to separate your clean water pipework from your neighbour’s.
Shared water supplies used to allow enough water for each household, but demand has increased due to modern appliances like power showers and dishwashers. Some of our customers also choose to do this so they are able to turn their water off without affecting the neighbour.
You may not always know you’re on a shared supply with your neighbour. If your stopcock is in a communal area or you do not have enough flow from your taps during peak times such a 7-8am or at children’s bedtime.
Your options for replacing lead pipework depends on where they are located:
If you’re replacing the pipework between the outside stop valve (usually in the footpath) and internal stop valve (within the building), we’ll need to reconnect you to the outside stop valve after your plumber has replaced the lead pipework. To arrange the reconnection, call us on 0800 316 9800 (option 1).
If any of your lead piping belongs to us, we’ll replace it with a pipe of the same diameter free of charge up to 25mm.
If you’re starting work in the next three months, please apply now.
People often talk about new water mains when they mean a new connection from their home to the water main. This is known as a water service connection. Water mains supply many properties, and service connections take this water from the mains to our homes. If you're unsure about what you need, take a look at our help page.
Water pressure is controlled by pumps owned by the water company, which are controlled to ensure everyone on the network has enough water.
The bigger the supply pipe from a water main to your property, the more water will flow from your tap. If you’re installing new appliances or heating systems, you’ll need to ensure the flow rate is high enough to use them effectively. To increase the flow rate, you can install a larger pipe which allows more water to flow through or, if you share your supply with a neighbour, get a separate water connection.
