United Utilities has set out details of the new sewerage adoption arrangements that will be implemented in April and how it will affect those working on new developments.

Ahead of the new measures coming into effect, the water company held a wastewater technical forum in Haydock in March covered attended by 120 delegates, including developers, ground workers, consultants and industry organisations.

The forum also looked at other ways of dealing with wastewater such as sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) and surface water management.

United Utilities provided delegates with a detailed series of presentations covering the new Codes for Adoption, including:

• Procedure and Levels of Service
• Variations
• Pre-planning
• Design Approval
• Adoption Agreement
• Construct Sewers
• Maintenance Period
• Vesting of Sewers

The company also set out the timescale for the six month transition period from 1^st April to 30^th September to bring the new Codes into effect.

Any applications made up to and including 31^st March 2020, were to be designed to current standards. Applications received between 1stApril 2020 and 30thSeptember 2020, can either be designed to current standards or the new DCG standards. From 1^st October 2020, all applications must be designed to the new DCG standards and follow the new process.

 United Utilities is proposing to adopt the  following approach and principles to SuDS adoption from April 2020 onwards:

• Adopt any SuDS that are proposed and comply with the CIRIA SuDS manual and Design & Construction Guidance.
• If a SuDS component is not designed fully in line with the guidance then United Utilities’ preference is that it is kept off-line.
• United Utilities must have confidence that the SuDS component will continue to function both over the short, medium and long term.
• Continue to support consultants & developers to develop proposals into adoptable designs.
• All sewers that discharge to ground via infiltration must have the whole sewerage system adopted (all or nothing).

The water company also explained that it would continue to consider sewers that communicate with un-adopted SuDS provided that they can satisfy certain principles, including:

• The proximity to other adoptable or exiting UU assets e.g. sewers or pumping stations has been fully considered (structural integrity, slope stability etc.).
• Provide evidence that the long term performance of the asset has been considered
• Reasonable sediment control & fall across the structure (acts as an effective channel)
• Access and egress to for maintenance has been considered and evidenced (e.g. access around sides, reasonable gradient of slopes, clear access to outfall structures)
• United Utilities has been provided with clear construction details (e.g. sections, including lining details etc.)
• Key maintenance dependencies, with visibility of the maintenance plans.
• Relevant designer risk assessments

The Forum was among a series of regular events United Utilities holds on a quarterly basis on different aspects of water and wastewater and any changes that might affect developments - email  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information.

The company is also inviting anyone with questions about the new sewerage adoption arrangements to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Click here to download United Utilities Technical Forum presentation