Construction & Property

Drainage and utilities compliance checklist

Pre-start compliance checklist for drainage and utility infrastructure works. Covers Section 104 sewer adoption, Approved Document H, confined space permits, cable avoidance, SWQR qualifications, and water discharge environmental permits.

UK-wide
Guide summary

You must complete this checklist before starting any drainage or utility work on a construction site. Check you have agreements with your water company, Building Regulations approval, and the right safety permits. If you cannot confirm an item, resolve it before any work begins.

  • Apply for a Section 104 sewer adoption agreement with your water company
  • Get your drainage design approved to DCG standards before starting work
  • Provide a 10% bond or cash deposit to the water company
  • Submit a Building Regulations application for all drainage work
  • Test drainage with air or water before covering any trenches
  • Get a permit for work in confined spaces before entering them
  • Use a CAT to scan for underground cables before digging
  • Check your workers have SWQR cards for water utility work
  • Get an environmental permit for any water discharge activity
  • Keep access points on drains every 45 metres or less
On this page
UK-wide

Related guides in Health & Safety

Use this checklist before starting drainage or utility infrastructure works on a construction site. Each item is a legal or regulatory requirement. If you cannot confirm an item, resolve it before work begins.

This checklist covers England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have separate regimes for some requirements.

Sewer adoption and drainage design

Confirm the following before constructing any new drainage infrastructure intended for adoption.

  • Section 104 agreement applied for with the local water and sewerage company (required for two or more properties connecting to a new sewer)
  • Drainage design approved by the water company to Design and Construction Guidance (DCG) standards
  • Bond or cash deposit provided (commonly around 10% of estimated construction cost, but the figure varies by water company)
  • Inspection regime agreed with the water company for key construction stages
  • Separate foul and surface water systems designed where required (Approved Document H5)
  • Build-over agreement obtained if constructing within 3 metres of an existing public sewer (Approved Document H4)

Building Regulations drainage compliance

Confirm the following for all drainage work requiring Building Regulations approval.

  • Building Regulations application submitted (full plans or building notice) covering drainage work
  • Foul drainage design meets Approved Document H1 requirements for pipe sizing and gradient
  • Rainwater drainage design meets Approved Document H3 requirements
  • Access points provided at changes of direction, gradient changes, junctions, and at the maximum spacings in the Approved Document H1 tables (spacing depends on the access type - up to 90 metres between manholes)
  • Drainage test equipment available on site (air test or water test) for inspection before covering trenches
  • If using private wastewater treatment, environmental permit or exemption registration obtained from the Environment Agency

Confined space entry

Confirm the following before any person enters a manhole, sewer, chamber, or service duct.

  • Risk assessment completed confirming entry is unavoidable (Regulation 4(1) duty to avoid entry)
  • Safe system of work documented and communicated to all entrants
  • Permit to enter issued by a competent person for each entry
  • Multi-gas detector available, calibrated, and tested (oxygen, H2S, CH4, CO as minimum)
  • Pre-entry atmospheric testing completed using remote sampling probe
  • Rescue equipment in place before entry: harness, lifeline, tripod and winch, breathing apparatus, resuscitation equipment
  • Trained attendant stationed outside the confined space for the full duration of entry
  • Rescue plan documented and emergency services contact details on site
  • All entrants trained and assessed as competent in confined space work

Cable avoidance and safe digging

Confirm the following before any excavation for drainage or utility trenching.

  • Utility plans obtained from all asset owners for the excavation area (use LSBUD to identify member asset owners, and contact non-members such as Openreach directly)
  • Utility plans available on site for the duration of works
  • CAT and Genny scan completed over the full excavation area plus margins
  • CAT operator trained and assessed as competent (for example, EUSR cable avoidance registration or equivalent)
  • CAT calibrated in accordance with manufacturer instructions
  • Service routes marked on the ground surface before excavation begins
  • Hand dig zones established within 500mm either side of any located service
  • Emergency procedures briefed to all operatives (gas strike, electricity strike, water strike)
  • Emergency contact numbers displayed on site: National Gas Emergency Service (0800 111 999), DNO, water company

Qualifications and competency

Confirm the following for all personnel working on drainage and utility infrastructure.

  • Supervisors hold a valid SWQR (Street Works Qualifications Register) supervisor card where works are in the highway
  • Operatives hold a valid SWQR operative card for the relevant unit(s) of competency
  • Plant operators hold valid CPCS or equivalent cards for the machinery being used
  • Confined space entrants have documented training and competency assessment
  • CAT and Genny operators have documented training and competency assessment
  • All operatives have received a site-specific briefing covering utility locations, confined space risks, and emergency procedures

Water discharge and environmental permits

Confirm the following if drainage or utility works involve any discharge to surface water or groundwater.

  • Environmental permit or standard rules registration obtained for construction dewatering (if discharging pumped groundwater to a watercourse)
  • Pollution prevention measures in place for silt-laden runoff (settlement tanks, silt fences, or similar)
  • Concrete and cement washwater contained on site (no discharge to any watercourse without permit)
  • Monitoring plan in place if permit requires self-monitoring of discharge quality
  • Environment Agency incident line number available on site (0800 80 70 60)

If you cannot confirm any item in this checklist, do not start work until the requirement is resolved. Operating without a confined space permit, digging without a CAT scan, or discharging polluted water without an environmental permit are criminal offences carrying unlimited fines and potential imprisonment.

Related guidance

Official guidance and legislation