Self-lay providers
As an alternative to having new mains and service connections installed by us, developers can arrange for the work to be carried out by qualified contractors.
Codes for Adoption are now available for Self Lay (please see dropdown below for more details). This is for when a Developer appoints an independent Self-Lay Provider (known as SLP) to undertake the contestable work of designing and/or installing water mains and services on a new development site. It details processes, requirements for the work and specifies the role of SLP's and Water Companies. Additionally, you can find guidance from Ofwat on Self Lay here.
The work must be carried out by a company that is accredited with the Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS).
As an alternative to having new mains and service connections installed by a Self Lay Provider, developers can arrange for the work to be carried out by us.
Pre Development Services
If you are planning to connect to our Clean Water network and you would like to understand the options which are available for the connection and an estimate of the likely cost of the connection before you make a formal application to us, we can provide you with a budget estimate.
Benefits of Self-Lay
Developers can find self-lay beneficial because:
- They may be able to employ a single contractor to install the water, gas and electricity infrastructure;
- It may work out cheaper to Self-Lay than requisition; and
- Self-Lay Providers (SLPs) may be able to offer more bespoke service and greater flexibility in relation to the timing of the required works.
Mains and services or services only
If you are installing both the mains and services on a site, and the self-lay agreement has been signed by all parties, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk to arrange a pre-start meeting. You will be provided with contact details for the person responsible for your site when we send out the agreements for signature.
If you are only making service connections, and the self-lay agreement has been signed by all parties, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk to arrange a pre-start meeting.
Weekly whereabouts
We need to know what work you are doing and when you are doing it so that if we need to inspect the installation, we can have someone onsite at the right time.
All SLPs are expected to submit a weekly whereabouts at the end of the week that details the work they are going to do in the following week. There’s no specific format, just email through the details to networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk
We appreciate that plans can change, so if yours do, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk
Each year we are required to publish a report setting out any agreed deviations from the Sectoral Guidance or the Model Adoption Agreements, for the preceding twelve month period (from 1 April – 31 March). The annual report must, as a minimum, include details of the number of deviation agreements entered into under paragraphs 5.1.2 and 5.2.2 of Ofwat's Code for Adoption Agreements; the nature and categories of deviations agreed; and any other detail as may be specified by Ofwat from time to time.
Ofwat's Code for Adoption Agreements can be found here.
For the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, Bristol water did deviate from the Sectional Guidance on the attached circumstances. There were no deviations from the Model Adoption Agreements.
Commencement of mainlaying
Notify us of your intention to commence mainlaying 21 working days in advance using this form.
You only need to submit this form when you first start the mainlaying covered by a particular agreement (sometimes the mainlaying for a site is split between several agreements).
In addition to notifying us of when you start mainlaying you also need to submit a weekly whereabouts to inform us of your ongoing proposals.
Request for a spur connection
This application form should be sent at least 21 days before the date by which you require the branch connection to be completed for the development.
Non-contestable mains connections
If a non-contestable mains connection needs to be made, book in the work using this form 14 working days in advance. Don’t wait until the bacteriological samples have come back.
SL-N3A Request for BW to Complete Mains Connection (Document)
Contestable mains connections
Notify us of when you intend to make a contestable mains connection using this form. You should submit it 14 working days in advance. Again, don’t wait until the bacteriological samples have come back.
Completed/Aborted mains connection
Once you’ve made a contestable mains connection, or if you intended to make one but were unable to, you should complete and submit this form within 24 hours of the intended connection time.
SL-N4 Notification of Completed or Aborted Mains Connection (Document)
Contestable Service Connections
Once you’ve made a contestable mains connection, or if you intended to make one but were unable to, you should complete and submit this form within 24 hours of the intended connection time.
Notify us of when you intend to make a contestable service connection 14 working days in advance using this form.SL-N5 Notification of Proposed Service Connection (Submit this form at least 14 days in advance of the first proposed connection).
SL-N5 Notification of Proposed Service Connection (Document)
Completed Service Connection
Once you’ve made a service connection, complete this form and submit it with the ‘as-laid’ and meter details for the service within 24 hours.
SL-N6 Notification of Completed Service Connection (Submit this form preferably within 24 hours of the connection date with an 'as laid' drawing detailing material of services)
SL-N6 Notification of Completed Service Connection (Document)
Mains and services or services only
If you are installing both the mains and services on a site, and the self-lay agreement has been signed by all parties, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk to arrange a pre-start meeting. You will be provided with contact details for the person responsible for your site when we send out the agreements for signature.
If you are only making service connections, and the self-lay agreement has been signed by all parties, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk to arrange a pre-start meeting.
Weekly whereabouts
We need to know what work you are doing and when you are doing it so that if we need to inspect the installation, we can have someone onsite at the right time.
All SLPs are expected to submit a weekly whereabouts at the end of the week that details the work they are going to do in the following week. There’s no specific format, just email through the details to networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk
We appreciate that plans can change, so if yours do, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk
Each year we are required to publish a report setting out any agreed deviations from the Sectoral Guidance or the Model Adoption Agreements, for the preceding twelve month period (from 1 April – 31 March). The annual report must, as a minimum, include details of the number of deviation agreements entered into under paragraphs 5.1.2 and 5.2.2 of Ofwat's Code for Adoption Agreements; the nature and categories of deviations agreed; and any other detail as may be specified by Ofwat from time to time.
Ofwat's Code for Adoption Agreements can be found here.
For the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, Bristol water did deviate from the Sectional Guidance on the attached circumstances. There were no deviations from the Model Adoption Agreements.
Commencement of mainlaying
Notify us of your intention to commence mainlaying 21 working days in advance using this form.
You only need to submit this form when you first start the mainlaying covered by a particular agreement (sometimes the mainlaying for a site is split between several agreements).
In addition to notifying us of when you start mainlaying you also need to submit a weekly whereabouts to inform us of your ongoing proposals.
Request for a spur connection
This application form should be sent at least 21 days before the date by which you require the branch connection to be completed for the development.
Non-contestable mains connections
If a non-contestable mains connection needs to be made, book in the work using this form 14 working days in advance. Don’t wait until the bacteriological samples have come back.
SL-N3A Request for BW to Complete Mains Connection (Document)
Contestable mains connections
Notify us of when you intend to make a contestable mains connection using this form. You should submit it 14 working days in advance. Again, don’t wait until the bacteriological samples have come back.
Completed/Aborted mains connection
Once you’ve made a contestable mains connection, or if you intended to make one but were unable to, you should complete and submit this form within 24 hours of the intended connection time.
SL-N4 Notification of Completed or Aborted Mains Connection (Document)
Contestable Service Connections
Once you’ve made a contestable mains connection, or if you intended to make one but were unable to, you should complete and submit this form within 24 hours of the intended connection time.
Notify us of when you intend to make a contestable service connection 14 working days in advance using this form.SL-N5 Notification of Proposed Service Connection (Submit this form at least 14 days in advance of the first proposed connection).
SL-N5 Notification of Proposed Service Connection (Document)
Completed Service Connection
Once you’ve made a service connection, complete this form and submit it with the ‘as-laid’ and meter details for the service within 24 hours.
SL-N6 Notification of Completed Service Connection (Submit this form preferably within 24 hours of the connection date with an 'as laid' drawing detailing material of services)
SL-N6 Notification of Completed Service Connection (Document)
Mains and services or services only
If you are installing both the mains and services on a site, and the self-lay agreement has been signed by all parties, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk to arrange a pre-start meeting. You will be provided with contact details for the person responsible for your site when we send out the agreements for signature.
If you are only making service connections, and the self-lay agreement has been signed by all parties, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk to arrange a pre-start meeting.
Weekly whereabouts
We need to know what work you are doing and when you are doing it so that if we need to inspect the installation, we can have someone onsite at the right time.
All SLPs are expected to submit a weekly whereabouts at the end of the week that details the work they are going to do in the following week. There’s no specific format, just email through the details to networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk
We appreciate that plans can change, so if yours do, please email networksiteagents@bristolwater.co.uk
Each year we are required to publish a report setting out any agreed deviations from the Sectoral Guidance or the Model Adoption Agreements, for the preceding twelve month period (from 1 April – 31 March). The annual report must, as a minimum, include details of the number of deviation agreements entered into under paragraphs 5.1.2 and 5.2.2 of Ofwat's Code for Adoption Agreements; the nature and categories of deviations agreed; and any other detail as may be specified by Ofwat from time to time.
Ofwat's Code for Adoption Agreements can be found here.
For the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, Bristol water did deviate from the Sectional Guidance on the attached circumstances. There were no deviations from the Model Adoption Agreements.
Commencement of mainlaying
Notify us of your intention to commence mainlaying 21 working days in advance using this form.
You only need to submit this form when you first start the mainlaying covered by a particular agreement (sometimes the mainlaying for a site is split between several agreements).
In addition to notifying us of when you start mainlaying you also need to submit a weekly whereabouts to inform us of your ongoing proposals.
Request for a spur connection
This application form should be sent at least 21 days before the date by which you require the branch connection to be completed for the development.
Non-contestable mains connections
If a non-contestable mains connection needs to be made, book in the work using this form 14 working days in advance. Don’t wait until the bacteriological samples have come back.
SL-N3A Request for BW to Complete Mains Connection (Document)
Contestable mains connections
Notify us of when you intend to make a contestable mains connection using this form. You should submit it 14 working days in advance. Again, don’t wait until the bacteriological samples have come back.
Completed/Aborted mains connection
Once you’ve made a contestable mains connection, or if you intended to make one but were unable to, you should complete and submit this form within 24 hours of the intended connection time.
SL-N4 Notification of Completed or Aborted Mains Connection (Document)
Contestable Service Connections
Once you’ve made a contestable mains connection, or if you intended to make one but were unable to, you should complete and submit this form within 24 hours of the intended connection time.
Notify us of when you intend to make a contestable service connection 14 working days in advance using this form.SL-N5 Notification of Proposed Service Connection (Submit this form at least 14 days in advance of the first proposed connection).
SL-N5 Notification of Proposed Service Connection (Document)
Completed Service Connection
Once you’ve made a service connection, complete this form and submit it with the ‘as-laid’ and meter details for the service within 24 hours.
SL-N6 Notification of Completed Service Connection (Submit this form preferably within 24 hours of the connection date with an 'as laid' drawing detailing material of services)
SL-N6 Notification of Completed Service Connection (Document)