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Fully Accredited & Committed to Safety
Every adoption programme we manage meets the highest industry standards. Worker safety, public safety, environmental responsibility, and project compliance from planning to sign-off.
Understanding the Section 104 process for getting new water mains and sewers formally adopted by the water company. We manage the full programme from design to adoption.
Every Section 104 agreement follows a clear, auditable sequence. Here is exactly what happens at each stage.
Section 104 of the Water Industry Act 1991 gives developers the right to have new sewers and water mains adopted into the public network, provided they are designed and built to the water company's specification. The mechanism works through a formal legal agreement between the developer and the water company. For new sewers, this is a Section 104 agreement. For new water mains installed by an accredited self-lay organisation, the equivalent is a self-lay agreement under the WIRS framework. Both operate on the same principle: the developer builds to standard, the water company adopts on satisfactory completion.
Before the agreement can be executed, USP prepares the drainage and water main design to the current adoption standard. For sewers, this means design to the Sewers for Adoption 7th Edition specification. For water mains, design must comply with Severn Trent's IDS (Infrastructure Design Standard). The pre-application design is submitted to the water company for review, and any comments are addressed before the formal agreement is signed. Getting the design right at this stage is critical, as design changes after the agreement is executed can delay the programme and incur additional costs.
Once the design is accepted, the formal legal agreement is prepared by the water company's solicitors and executed by both parties. The developer's solicitor reviews the agreement before signing. Simultaneously, the financial bond is put in place. The bond is typically calculated as a percentage of the estimated construction cost and is held by the water company as security. USP manages the technical aspects of this process, coordinating with the water company's development team and providing all technical documentation required for the agreement to be executed.
With the agreement and bond in place, construction can begin. The water company carries out inspection visits at key stages, including before backfilling and at practical completion. USP coordinates all inspection visits and ensures the water company is notified at the required stages. On practical completion, a CCTV survey of the sewers is carried out to the water company's specification. Any defects identified must be rectified before the 12-month maintenance period begins. At the end of the maintenance period, the water company carries out a final inspection and issues the formal adoption notice, confirming that ownership has transferred to the water company.
The critical parameters that govern every Section 104 and self-lay adoption process.
End-to-end adoption management from a single WIRS-accredited provider.
Every adoption programme we manage meets the highest industry standards. Worker safety, public safety, environmental responsibility, and project compliance from planning to sign-off.
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I contacted USP and within minutes had a chat with Justin who described exactly how the job would be done and provided a comprehensive quote including labour and materials and was able to start the work in just 7 days. Justin and his team were brilliant and did an amazing job. I can highly recommend USP.
Jack and Joel were absolutely amazing this morning and really put themselves out to dig a hole without having to dig another hole in my drive. More work for them but one happy customer.
From the initial quote through to work completion, Justin and his work partner were a mix of professional, knowledgeable, good-humoured, and clear in all explained (I felt an instant ease to agree to the work). The work itself was excellent and they left the place immaculate!
George and Jack come out today to move a gas meter. It wasn't a straightforward job, but they both took time to talk me through what they were doing and what the next steps are. Very friendly and polite and thought about the needs of our family.
Jack and George are great.
Bang on time, completed the work perfectly, no issues. Left the meter really neatly finished. Jack and Joel were very courteous and did a great job.
George and Jack turned up and did a first class job, very friendly and professional. Great job lads.
Jack and Joel were brilliant. Very polite, worked to my highest expectations. Left the area as clean and tidy, as was possible. And explained every step of the process to me, answering any questions I had.
Fantastic work from Jack and Johl.
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