New Water Connections in Britain Guide

What is a new business water connection?

A new water connection links a newly built or previously unconnected property to the local mains water network for the first time.

Regional water companies operate networks of water mains that typically follow the road network, supplying potable water to properties in the area.

As the diagram below shows, a new connection involves laying a communication pipe from the water main to the boundary of your property, where a meter and stop valve are installed. You are responsible for the supply pipe running from the boundary into your building.

water-connection-diagram

The process is similar for wastewater, where a new lateral drain connects your property’s drainage to the public sewer.

If you have recently moved into a new property and the water supply has simply been disconnected, you will not usually need a new connection. Contact the current water company to reactivate the existing supply instead.

How to get a new business water connection

Here is the process for arranging a new water connection to a commercial property, from application through to activation.

1. Assess water requirements

Work out the property’s likely water demand. A standard 25mm supply pipe suits most small premises, but commercial properties with higher demand, such as manufacturers, hotels or restaurants, may need a larger pipe. Pipe size affects both the connection charge and the infrastructure charge, so get this right before applying.

2. Apply to the local water company

Submit a connection application to the regional water company that owns the mains network in your area. The application confirms that connecting your property will not put existing supplies to nearby homes and businesses at risk. Most water companies aim to issue a quotation within 28 days of receiving a complete application.

3. Site survey and quotation

Once the water company grants permission, a site survey confirms the route, surface types and any traffic management needed. You will then receive a quotation from either the water company or an accredited self-lay provider. Quotations are typically valid for six months.

4. Site preparation

Lay the private supply pipework within your property boundary to the standards set by the water company, and in accordance with the Water Fittings Regulations. The local water company will inspect this pipework before making the connection, so photograph trenches and pipe depths as work progresses.

5. Accept your quote and make payment

Accept the quotation and pay the connection charges. Additional infrastructure charges apply to every first-time connection, and further site-specific charges may apply if the local network needs reinforcing to handle your demand.

6. Select a business water supplier

Commercial properties in England and Scotland must appoint a licensed business water supplier to bill for water and wastewater once the connection goes live. Choosing a supplier at this stage means your account is ready as soon as the connection is activated. Use our business water comparison service to find a water supplier with the cheapest business water rates.

7. Connection work completed

The water company or self-lay provider excavates at the boundary, lays the communication pipe and connects it to the main. A water meter and stop valve are installed in a boundary box at the connection point.

8. Inspection and activation

Where a self-lay provider has carried out the work, the water company inspects it for compliance before the connection is activated. Once live, your chosen supplier begins billing you for water and wastewater services.

Who can provide a new business water connection?

There are three routes for connecting a new commercial property to the water network.

Your local water company

This is the regional company that owns and operates the mains network around your property, Thames Water or Severn Trent for example. You can find your regional water company on the Ofwat website.

Each company publishes its connection charges annually, with new rates taking effect on 1 April. The fee depends on the length and diameter of the communication pipe and the surface being excavated, with connections through a road costing significantly more than those through soft ground.

Accredited self-lay provider

An accredited self-lay provider (SLP) is a licensed contractor that can carry out most of the physical work of a new connection, provided it holds Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS) accreditation.

Self-lay is often cheaper, with Affinity Water charging around £554 for a standard connection where a contractor has done the digging, against £1,907 for a road connection carried out entirely by the company. An SLP can also coordinate the groundwork for a business electricity connection and broadband alongside water as a single project.

New appointment and variation (NAV)

For larger developments, a NAV is an alternative water company appointed by Ofwat to own and operate the water network within a specific site boundary.

The NAV builds and adopts the on-site network, then buys water in bulk from the regional company. NAVs mainly suit multi-plot developments rather than single property connections.

Key points to consider when arranging a new business water connection

Here are the main things to weigh up before applying, from what a connection costs to how long it takes.

New water connection charges

The surface being dug sets the price. Affinity Water’s 2026/27 standard connection charge is around £946 in unmade ground, £1,439 in a footpath and £1,907 in a road, and each water company updates its charges on 1 April.

Infrastructure charges

Every first-time connection also pays a one-off infrastructure charge that funds the wider network. Affinity Water’s 2026/27 charge is £615 per property, and most companies scale it up for commercial properties with pipes larger than 25mm.

Extra charges to watch for

Quotes can include traffic management fees, meter and smart water meter commissioning fees, water regulations inspection fees and requisition charges priced per metre where a new main is needed.

Self lay cost savings

Where a WIRS-accredited contractor does the excavation, the water company charges drop sharply, to around £554 at Affinity Water against £1,907 for a road connection done entirely by the company. One contractor can also handle water, power and broadband groundwork together.

Connection timelines

A straightforward connection takes 6 to 12 weeks end-to-end. Quotes are issued within 28 days of a complete application, are typically valid for six months, and the connection is made within around 21 days of a passed inspection.

Potential delays

Timescales extend significantly where roads are involved. A road closure takes a minimum of 3 months to arrange with the local highways authority, and connections needing a new water main can run considerably longer.

Disputing water connection charges

Challenge unclear charges with the water company’s developer services team first. Ofwat charging rules require costs to be explained clearly, and unresolved disputes can be escalated to the Consumer Council for Water.

Legal and regulatory considerations

Private pipework must meet the Water Fittings Regulations standards and pass inspection before activation, contractors must hold WIRS accreditation, and the water company may ask to see planning permission for new developments.

Alternatives to a mains connection

If quoted costs are prohibitively high, a borehole water supply can be a viable long-term alternative. For temporary water while you wait, see our guide to business water interruptions.

New business water connection