Connect to sewer network

You will need to apply to connect your new or existing property to our public sewers.

This is because we need to ensure that your proposed connection is suitable and will not give rise to potential issues such as flooding or pollution, which could affect your development and our existing customers.

We will assess and approve your sewer connection application however, it will be your responsibility to employ a contractor to complete the works. See our sewerage contractors page for more information.

We will then inspect the works to see if they meet the necessary standards. We can do this by either visiting your site in person or by using video technology. Using video technology, our Anglian Water representative will be able to be present onsite without physically being there!

Please note: A sewerage infrastructure charge will also be applicable in addition to the connection fee. This charge is billed by the water company either before or shortly after the connection has taken place. For further information regarding this charge, please review our Developer Charging Arrangements.

On this page you will find information about how to make the application and the application process.

How can I connect to the public sewer?

There are different ways of connecting to the public sewer depending on the circumstances of your development.

A direct sewer connection if you want to connect directly to the public sewer.
An indirect sewer connection if you want to connect to an existing private drain that will then discharge into a public sewer.

If you're unsure whether your connection is to a private or public sewer, you can find out more about the ownership and responsibility of pipes here.

Direct connections to the public sewer can be made by four main methods as shown on our methods of direct sewer connections page.

See our guide on applying for a sewer connection for further information.

See our Terms and Conditions for connecting to the public sewer.

Applying for a connection to the public sewer/adoption of a public lateral drain

Before you make your application, you will need to know where and how you're making the connection; the type of sewer you're connecting to and who owns it.

You can locate a sewer by:

Purchasing a map by registering and logging into digdat, which shows where our sewers are located.

Please be advised that there may be other public sewers and lateral drains in existence within the vicinity of your proposed works that are not indicated on the sewer records.

The majority of private sewers and lateral drains that were built and connected to the public sewer on the 1st July 2011 became public on the 1st October 2011, as a result of the Private Sewer Transfer Regulations 2011. The vast majority of these sewers and lateral drains are not indicated on the sewer records. Sewers and lateral drains are defined as follows: -

Ø Public sewer – waste pipe (foul or surface water) that serves two or more properties

Ø Public lateral drain – the section of a waste pipe (foul or surface water) serving one property between the boundary of the property and the point of connection with the public sewer.

The position of all sewers which are shown on the map should be considered as indicative only.

Please ensure that you carry out a thorough investigation of the proposed working area to establish whether unmapped public sewers and lateral drains are in existence and to determine their accurate position.

Once you have established where you’re going to connect you will need to design your connection and prepare drawings of your proposals.

The drawings can be prepared by anyone, but will need to include:

The location and method of the proposed connection with the route and details of the private drainage.
The size of the sewer you’re connecting to.

If your development requires planning permission, you’ll also need the decision notice with any associated conditions before making your application.

Once you have all this information you can apply for 'Connection to the public sewer/adoption of a public lateral drain' via InFlow

How long is it going to take?

Step 1:

Apply for a new sewer connection and pay the upfront fee.
(Please note: A sewerage infrastructure charge, will also be applicable in addition to the connection fee, but this isn't charged until either just before or after the connection has been made.)

Step 2:

We’ll check your application within 5 days and if we’ve got everything we need, we will progress it to complete a technical assessment. If not, we’ll let you know exactly what we need to progress.

Step 3:

We’ll complete a technical assessment of your application and get back to you within 21 days. Once we’re happy with the proposed connection we’ll issue an approval letter to you as confirmation.

Step 4:

Once you have had your application approved, you will need to employ a contractor to connect to the public sewer. If you’re making an indirect connection you’ll need to let us know the date you made the connection as we won’t come out to inspect.

Step 5:

We’ll attend site and carry out an inspection of the connection to the public sewer and sign it off as satisfactory.

What is a lateral drain?

A lateral drain is a section of drain from the property boundary to the point of connection with the public sewer.

Before you decide whether to apply for adoption of the lateral drain please ensure that the criteria in our guidance notes are met.

Developer Impact Assessments and Pre-planning reports

These reports are provided by us to help developers with progression through the planning process of large development sites. These may contain indicative drainage strategies and costs, but these are only provided to demonstrate that a suitable solution exists for planning purposes. The solutions are not based on a detailed design and may not be the solution that is ultimately delivery by us, should a Section 98 sewer requisition be progressed.

If you need us to deliver a sewer or mitigation works under Section 98, please make contact with your Growth Liaison Manager (GLM) as early as possible to start the process. Failure to commence the Section 98 process could lead to a delay with the processing of your Section 104/106 application.

If during the design process you establish the need to deviate from the stipulated drainage strategy, please discuss and agree the amended strategy with our Pre-development team planningliaison@anglianwater.co.uk before submitting your Section 104/106 application.

Need help with your application or want further information?

Email: drainage@anglianwater.co.uk

Call: 03456 066 087 (08:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday)

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Apply through Inflow

Our charges

Sewer responsibility