Using a self-lay provider
We want you to be able to choose the installer that best suits your needs and timescales when you are planning your development. This might not be us – independent self-lay providers (SLPs) could be able to offer more cost-effective terms and be better suited to the timescale of your construction programme. They may also be able to offer the installation of multiple utilities.
SLPs receive the same service from us as all other jobs, and they’re accredited to all the standards required for us to adopt the pipework at completion.
What works best for you
There can be advantages to you using SLPs. They can potentially complete your water connections:
- With greater flexibility to coordinate with your construction programme.
- Providing you with a single point of contact.
- As part of a multi-utility contract, where they also lay gas, power and/or telecommunications.
- In a more responsive and more cost-effective way.
Committed to quality
SLPs are accredited to the Water Industry Regulation Scheme, administered by Lloyd’s Register on behalf of the water industry in England and Wales, meaning:
- They have demonstrated they can carry out the water connection work to the same technical, quality and safety standards that we would.
- Give you the same end result as if we did the entire job, as we adopt the new mains and/or service connections afterwards.
- Are subject to regular reviews and site visits by Lloyd’s Register to check the ongoing quality of their work.
Working in partnership
We promote competition because it keeps all providers – including us – on their toes, and striving to improve the service they offer you. Competition means that you can choose the installer that best fits your timescales, avoiding any project delays.
Self-lay providers also support us in delivering connections for the development activity across our region. This helps promote one of our key aims: to enable growth.
We’re legally required to provide connections at cost so we don’t make any profit from this. Our key concern is that you get the service that suits your requirements.
We meet regularly with SLPs at our self-lay forums to get feedback and learn how to improve our partnership with them to deliver you the best choice and service. Our dedicated team liaises with SLPs to make sure self-lay jobs receive the same level of service as all other work.
We assess how we perform in supporting self-lay providers against a range of measures. These are compared against other water companies and published on a quarterly basis by Water UK.
Types of work a self-lay provider can do for you
Most activities related to installing or diverting water mains and making service connections are known as contestable. This means they can be done either by a self-lay provider or by us.
Work that is classified as non-contestable can only be completed by us. This includes approving design work, connecting services to our supply network, and activities that affect existing customers, such as shutting mains and advising customers of planned works.
Finding a self-lay provider
You can find SLPs to contact for competitive quotes on the Lloyd's Register. This is a national list, from which you can select providers who are active in our region.
Learn more about self-lay providers.