Major changes of legislation made in 2003, which are likely to be implemented later this year, should see the transfer of responsibility for existing private sewers and lateral drains to water companies. At the same time, in order to prevent the proliferation of new private sewers and laterals, further changes to the Water Industry Act made through the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, are also likely to see mandatory adoption of all new sewers and lateral drains. If this is implemented, developers will be required to enter into a Section 104 adoption agreement covering all new sewers and laterals that will connect to the public sewer system. A condition of the agreement would be a requirement to meet any standards published by the Secretary of State, or in Wales, by the Welsh Minsters.
This will require major changes to the industry Sewers for Adoption guidance to cover the smaller sewers and lateral drains not previously included in such agreements. Sewers for Adoption has been an important guide for those involved in the planning, design and construction of sewers and pumping stations on new developments where these are intended for subsequent adoption by water companies in England and Wales through an agreement under Section 104 of the Water Industry Act 1991.
Nick Orman, Principal Consultant at WRc says “Sewers for Adoption 7th edition will be released in the summer and will provide detailed guidance to support any Mandatory Build Standards for foul sewers as well as continuing to provide guidance on the design of adoptable surface water sewers and pumping stations ranging in size from smallest up to 30kW.”
Clearly, designers are currently involved in developments that will not be started until much later in the year. To assist in these cases, a temporary addendum to Sewers for Adoption 6 will be published shortly and will be available free to those pre-ordering Sewers for Adoption 7.
SFA 7 is available for pre-order from the WEBookshop at www.webookshop.com, email publications@wrcplc.co.uk or telephone:+44 (0)1793 865012.