Skip to main content

Technical Guidance

Standard Details and Codes of Practice for Developers

Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

The Standard Details and Codes of Practice outline Uisce Éireann's requirements and provide technical guidance for developers in the provision of water and/or wastewater infrastructure that is to be installed in developments and that will be connected to the water and/or wastewater networks.

There are two sets of Standard Details available for developers below - one for water infrastructure and the other for wastewater infrastructure. Each set of Standard Details is accompanied by a Design Risk Assessment (DRA), which outlines the health and safety responsibilities of developers and their designers/contractors in the provision of water and/or wastewater infrastructure.

There are also two Codes of Practice available, one for water infrastructure and the other for wastewater infrastructure. Each Code of Practice is accompanied by a Design Risk Assessment (DRA), which outlines the health and safety responsibilities of developers and their designers/contractors in the provision of water and/or wastewater infrastructure.

The use of Standard Details is mandatory in all Uisce Éireann Connection Agreement Offers issued after 6 June 2016. The Codes of Practice will be mandatory in all Connection Agreements issued from 30th April 2017.

Water

Wastewater

Connection to Uisce Éireann networks through third party infrastructure

Self-Lay Connection Agreements

A Self Lay Agreement is your Connection Offer, which is issued to you once the design for your development has been agreed with Uisce Éireann. The Self Lay Agreement details all works to be carried out by the Developer in connection with the construction of the Water & Wastewater Services Infrastructure within a development, and also the costs involved with connecting this infrastructure to the Uisce Éireann public network.
Developers should note, where a request for connection to Uisce Éireann's network(s) is received which involves a connection through third party infrastructure not yet taken in charge by a local authority, the Developer will be required to:
  • Identify the elements of the third party infrastructure required to convey the water and/or wastewater from the development to the Uisce Éireann network(s) (the "arterial pipes")
  • Satisfy Uisce Éireann that the arterial pipes have adequate capacity and have been sufficiently constructed to convey the proposed water and/or wastewater loads
  • Procure the transfer of the arterial pipes to Uisce Éireann

The identification and transfer of the arterial pipes will be required as a pre-condition to the commencement of the Self-Lay Works by the Developer. Please note, from receipt of a Connection Application to issuing a Self Lay Agreement takes on average 16 weeks.

Confirmation of Feasibility

Confirmation of Feasibility (CoF) issued to Developers in response to Pre-Connection Enquiries (PCEs) will outline these requirements where connections are requested through third party infrastructure. For developments which have already received a CoF and which fall into this category of development, developers should note that the Connection Agreement(s) will reflect these requirements.
Responsibility for securing consent to connect to third party infrastructure and for arranging the transfer of the arterial pipes rests with the Developer. Please note, from receipt of a Pre-Connection Enquiry to issuing a Confirmation of Feasibility takes on average 16 weeks.

Quality Assurance Manuals

Connections and Developer Services has prepared two manuals which set out the Quality Assurance Requirements for Design and for Field Inspections, which summarise the Quality Assurance requirements of the Codes of Practice. The Quality Assurance Design Requirements Manual outlines to developers the requirements that apply to the preparation and submissions of design proposals for water and wastewater infrastructure to Uisce Éireann for vetting. The Quality Assurance Field Inspection Requirements outline to developers the interactions, tests, inspections, etc. that are required when the water and wastewater infrastructure is being constructed. These manuals can be accessed via the links below.