Codes for adoption

On 25 October 2019, the documentation submitted by Water UK in relation to sewerage was approved by Ofwat.  The final approved documentation can be downloaded by following the links below.

Sewerage adoption

On 25 October 2019, the documentation submitted by Water UK in relation to sewerage was approved by Ofwat. The approved documentation can be reached via the link below.

The new sewerage adoption arrangements will come into effect on 1 April 2020.  In order to allow a smooth introduction of the new arrangements alongside various other initiatives which are to take effect on that date, reporting against most of the new performance metrics is going to be delayed for a maximum of six months from 1 April, as noted in the Sewerage Sector Guidance document (SSG).

Water companies have also published principles to deal with the transition between the current Sewers for Adoption regime and the new SSG.  These are set out below, along with the other SSG documents.

In general, applications using current standards will continue to be accepted for six months from the implementation of the SSG on 1 April 2020.  As far as possible, sewerage undertakers would prefer to agree with developers that schemes submitted before 1 April should be handled using the new service standards.  For schemes currently being developed which involve SuDS, it is likely to be beneficial for the new SSG standards to be followed and developers are strongly encouraged to contact their local sewerage undertaker to discuss this further.

Independent Sewerage Adoption Panel

A requirement of Ofwat’s Code for adoption agreements is that all requests for changes to the documentation approved by Ofwat be submitted to an independent panel, comprised of an equal number of water companies and customers.  The role of the panel is to make recommendations to Ofwat where it consider that changes to the approved documentation are appropriate.

Under the chairmanship of Victor Olowe, the sewerage panel comprises the following individuals:

Those wishing to contact the sewerage panel can do so at this address:

<sewerageadoption@water.org.uk>

Water adoption

On 7 October 2019, Water UK submitted revised documentation for approval by Ofwat.  That documentation can be found below.  Ofwat has indicated that it wishes to undertake further consultation before responding to this submission.  Its latest website update is as follows: “We now expect to make our decision in February 2019. If we do approve the documents, we do not currently anticipate any change in the timing of their implementation by water companies, but that will form part of our final decision.”  The relevant page on the Ofwat website is

https://www.ofwat.gov.uk/regulated-companies/markets/connections-market/code-adoption-agreements/

If Ofwat maintains this timetable, implementation of the water adoption code would therefore take place in April 2020.

Independent Water Adoption Panel

A requirement of Ofwat’s Code for adoption agreements is that all requests for changes to the documentation approved by Ofwat be submitted to an independent panel, comprised of an equal number of water companies and customers.  The role of the panel is to make recommendations to Ofwat where it consider that changes to the approved documentation are appropriate.

Under the chairmanship of Victor Olowe, the water panel comprises the following individuals:

Those wishing to contact the water panel can do so at this address:

<wateradoption@water.org.uk>