Ofwat gives green light to new guidance on adoption of sewerage assets

Ofwat has given the go-ahead to water companies’ proposals for new sector guidance on sewerage asset adoption.

The new rules come into force in April 2020. The rules will, according to Water UK – which led the work on them – “provide clear, uniform and comprehensive guidance which will help accelerate housebuilding by smoothing the transfer of ownership and responsibility.”

Ofwat in 2017, challenged water firms through its Code for Adoption Agreements, to devise new standards for the construction by developers of new sewerage assets that are to be transferred to the local water company.

The new rules set standards for developers constructing Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for new housing. This, said Water UK, will simplify and accelerate water company moves to manage and maintain the SuDS on the development’s completion.