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Most construction sites need a supply of water for mixing concrete, suppressing dust and running on-site facilities for workers, long before they have a permanent new connection to the water mains.
This guide explains the main options for bringing water to construction sites, including using an existing mains connection, a temporary standpipe, or arranging deliveries with onsite storage.
What sources of water does a construction site need?
This guide covers all of the common sources of water supply used at construction sites:
- How to arrange a temporary water connection for a construction site
- How to arrange water deliveries for construction sites
- Can a construction site use an existing water connection?
- Can a construction site use dewatering as a source of water?
In this guide, we explain how each supply option works, what activities it can support, and how to arrange it.
How to arrange a temporary water connection for a construction site
A standpipe is a convenient water supply option for construction sites that are near existing mains water infrastructure.
What is a standpipe connection?
A standpipe is designed to connect to underground washout hydrants on mains water pipes. It is a vertical pipe fitted with an integrated water meter and a backflow protection device, and topped with an outlet.
Washout hydrants are small, covered chambers found in footpaths on British roads. The hydrant connection is usually fitted with a blue cap. The standpipe connects to the mains pipe in the washout chamber, offering an above-ground connection point to which a hose can be attached.
It is important to note that fire hydrants are not permitted for use with a standpipe. These are typically accompanied by a visible yellow ‘H’ sign above the surface and have a valve fitted with a red cap.
Standpipe supply water quality
Although a standpipe directly extracts water from the mains network, it is not automatically classified as drinking water.
The reason is that the standpipe, and other pipework used on the construction site, must undergo pipework chlorination to adhere to drinking water standards.
Most construction sites arrange drinking-water deliveries separately.
How do you arrange a standpipe connection?
To use water from a standpipe, you need to obtain a licence from the local water company via a standpipe service provider.
Most British water companies have outsourced management of standpipe licences to the provider Aquam.
To arrange a standpipe supply through Aquam, the process is as follows:
- Complete their online training for extracting water from a standpipe.
- Complete the application form that is relevant to the water company in your area.
- Receive a quote from Aquam for the standpipe hire, licence costs and volumetric water charges.
- Make payment.
- Arrange a delivery or collect the standpipe from a local Aquam depot.
Standpipe water rates
Business water rates for standpipes are region-dependent, but typically include:
- A rental charge for the standpipe.
- A licence charge that depends on the length of the service.
- A volumetric charge for each cubic metre of water used.
Unlike standard business water bills, standpipe charges do not include any surface drainage charges or other costs associated with sewerage.
How to arrange water deliveries for construction sites
Another typical water supply option for construction sites is water bowsers and tankered deliveries.
Unlike a standpipe, this option does not require local access to the mains network.
Types of water deliveries for construction sites
Water delivery providers typically offer potable and non-potable water supplies.
Non-potable water deliveries can be used for cement mixing, equipment cleaning, dust suppression, etc., but cannot be used for hygiene facilities.
How to arrange water deliveries at a construction site
Bulk water deliveries are typically offered by specialist private companies. These companies usually provide both the physical water tanks and deliveries of water required to keep them topped up.
Typically, deliveries are priced separately for:
- Planned deliveries – A refill schedule agreed in advance.
- Short-term call-outs – Unscheduled requests.
Unlike standpipe prices, water delivery costs are not regulated and are negotiated directly with the provider.
Types of tanks used for water deliveries at construction sites
Construction sites can choose from a range of tanks to receive and store water deliveries:
- Intermediate bulk containers – A rigid HDPE plastic bottle inside a steel cage, standardised at 1,000 litres. These are stackable and moveable by a forklift.
- Bladder tanks – Flexible fabric containers that ship completely flat and unfold onto a prepared, level patch of ground.
- Static poly tanks – Rigid moulded tanks, typically sized from around 1,000 up to 10,000 litres, used where a site needs a fixed, continuous-supply point rather than something mobile.
- Towable bowsers – Trailer-mounted tanks of between 1,000 and 10,000 litres that can be moved around the site as the work front shifts.
- Tanker trailers – A tank on a delivery vehicle, left on site for the duration of a project, providing up to 30,000 litres of capacity.
Can a construction site use an existing water connection?
Yes, construction sites can use water from an existing mains connection on the site. However, since construction sites use water for commercial purposes, it is necessary to register with a business water supplier to use water from an existing connection.
The process depends on the state of the current water connection:
An existing household metered supply
Contact the local water company to close the account on the connection and register a supply point ID (SPID) for the connection.
Give the SPID to a business water supplier to set up a new account and agree on a water tariff.
An existing household unmetered supply
The same steps apply as above, except that the water company will also need to install a water meter for the connection before it can be registered with the deregulated non-household water market.
An existing non-household supply
Contact the business water supplier that is registered to the connection. Go through their change in tenancy process to register the construction business as the new occupier.
For longer construction projects, consider using our business water comparison to find the cheapest tariff for your construction site.
Can a construction site use dewatering as a source of water?
Construction sites commonly remove ground and rainwater that accumulates in excavations on the site, in a process known as dewatering.
Most construction sites dispose of the extracted water by:
- Using a permit to dispose of uncontaminated water into nearby rivers, streams and canals.
- Disposing of contaminated water into the public sewers (using trade effluent consent), or offsite via tanker removal.
Despite its availability at most sites, uncontaminated water cannot be used as a water source for construction activities unless a specific water abstraction licence has been obtained.
Water usage at construction sites
Construction sites require a water supply for a variety of purposes. Each of these has its own requirements for water quality and quantity.
We’ve summarised the main types of water usage at construction sites:
- Concrete, mortar and grout production – A water supply is required for batching concrete, mixing mortar and preparing grout.
- Dust suppression – Spraying exposed ground, haul roads and stockpiles to keep airborne particulates down, particularly during excavation and demolition.
- Drilling and piling – Water is needed for foundation work, cooling drill heads and soil stabilisation during piling operations.
- Wheel wash facilities – A water supply for washing site vehicles’ tyres, a facility that is often required under planning permission.
- Welfare and sanitation – A potable water supply is required for the construction site’s cabins and bathroom facilities.
- Drinking water – Construction sites typically provide bottled drinking water via a dispenser.
How much water does a construction site need?
The construction of a single-family home typically requires 15 to 30 cubic metres of water, while larger commercial sites can require vast amounts of water over the course of construction.
These are the key factors impacting how much water a construction site requires:
- Project size – Water consumption typically scales directly with the size of the building or infrastructure being built.
- Workforce size – Potable water requirements for welfare use scale directly with the size of the workforce.
- Construction activities – Consumption typically peaks during concrete mixing or dust suppression.
- Weather conditions – The requirement for dust suppression increases in hot, dry conditions.
What happens if a construction site loses its water supply?
A reliable water supply is essential to the continued operation of construction sites. Toilet and other welfare facilities are necessary to support a workforce, and concrete pours are time-critical.
This dependency means that large construction sites often use a water contingency plan to mitigate against interruptions in water supply.
The risk of an interrupted water supply is typically mitigated at a construction site through:
- Multiple supply sources – Using both a standpipe connection and a delivery service to avoid a single point of failure.
- On-site storage – High-capacity storage on site can suffice in the case of short interruptions.
- Emergency deliveries – Water delivery providers typically offer a short-term call-out service, on top of scheduled deliveries.
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