Diversions

If there are water mains, fire hydrants, or district meters on your site, you may need to relocate them out of the way before you start your development. Here’s what you need to know and do.

Water mains

You can choose who does the diversion based on your needs and timescales. That might not be us – independent ‘self-lay providers’ (SLPs) may be able to fit in better with your construction programme and can also lay any new mains and service connections needed. SLPs receive the same service from us as all our other jobs and are accredited to all the required standards. Find SLPs to contact for competitive quotes.

If it’s us, if practicable, we’ll do this on a chargeable basis under Section 185 of the Water Industry Act 1991. If you’re redeveloping a site and the existing main is no longer needed, you can apply to have this main abandoned.

Fire hydrants

These are designated for sole use by regional fire authorities but maintained by us on their behalf. If you’d like an estimate of the cost of relocating the hydrant, we’ll need a location plan of the pillar and plans of the proposed works or development. We’ll then carry out a survey and send you an estimate for the work required.

Apply now

When you apply, you’ll need to pay an upfront application fee, which covers the costs of processing your application and payment. We’ll also charge you an upfront design fee or, if you’re doing the design yourself, a checking fee.

If you need another quote for the work, there’s an upfront requote fee.

All of these fees are non-refundable if the work doesn’t go ahead. You can find these in our current charging arrangements.

Apply for a water main diversion

If you've already applied, you'll need to make a payment.

District meter pillars

These measure the flow of water into an area. Our district meter pillars contain an above-ground aerial mast linked to underground monitoring equipment that’s connected directly to a water main.

As with fire hydrants, if you need this apparatus relocating, we’ll need a location plan of the pillar and plans of the proposed works or development. We’ll then carry out a survey and send you an estimate for the work required. For more information or an estimate for relocating a district meter, please contact us.