Building over or next to assets

Our water, wastewater and stormwater assets deliver precious services to you and your neighbours.

To keep the quality of our water and services high, it’s important to get our approval whenever you plan to build or dig near our assets (pipes, drains, meters).

So whether you’re a property owner planning to concrete your driveway or a construction company extending the transport network, we need to know.

Note: The Clearances between underground services table is superseded by the Technical guidelines - Building over and adjacent to pipe assets

When you need approval

You need our approval before you can move, replace or remove our pipes. This includes temporary pipework. There are fines and penalties for unauthorised work, so it’s best to check first.

Find out more about land development.
Talk to a Water Servicing Coordinator about getting approval.

Constructing or excavating

Before you build or excavate for a future structure, you must submit your plans to us for approval. This also applies to authorities, utilities and local councils working on community projects.

We'll check there'll be no impact on our assets.

Submit plans at Sydney Water Tap in^TM(registration required)
Find out about building plan approvals.

Installing other services for the community

If you're an authority, utility or local council planning to install services, you might affect our assets.

Contact us before you start planning
Before you start detailed planning for your project, you must email our Asset Services team. They'll tell you about any requirements, including if you need to protect or adjust our assets.

If an asset needs protecting or adjusting, you must engage a Water Servicing Coordinator to manage any works.

Read our Asset adjustment and protection manual to learn more about the process to follow.

NSW Streets Opening Coordination Council (SOCC)

We're a member of the NSW Streets Opening Coordination Council (SOCC).

We follow its recommendations on asset location and specifications for road restorations.

See also

Find answers

How can you get a standpipe?
If you need to use water from a hydrant, you must buy and maintain your own metered standpipe.

Before you buy a metered standpipe, you need to apply for a standpipe permit.

When can you use a metered standpipe?

You can use metered standpipes for approved activities such as:
- construction
- concrete sawing
- dust suppression.
When can't you use a metered standpipe?

We don't allow standpipes to be used:
- for agricultural, private or domestic use
- to supply water as an alternative to a property's normal water service.
Fines apply for water theft
It's an offence to use a standpipe that doesn't have a meter or to use a standpipe without a permit from us.
How can you help us manage trade wastewater?
Sydney's wastewater system was originally designed to transport wastewater from homes.

As Sydney has grown, so has the number of commercial and industrial operations. This has resulted in an increase in:
- the amount of trade waste discharged to the wastewater system
- demand on our treatment plants
- demand on our waterways.
How you can help

To help us manage the wastewater system, please remember that:
- all wastewater that enters our system comes out somewhere - either in the form of biosolids, recycled water or treated wastewater that's discharged to rivers or the ocean
- the more waste you put into the wastewater system, the harder our treatment plants have to work. This uses more energy, water and chemicals to keep up with the high levels of treatment required
- solid materials and grease can cause blockages in the wastewater system, resulting in overflows
- people work in and around the wastewater system, and can be harmed if you discharge dangerous materials
- the more we keep out of the wastewater system, the better it is for the environment.
How can you get a diagram showing Sydney Water's pipes and assets on your property?
Service location diagrams are plans created from our computerised mapping system that show our pipes and structures.

You can request a Service location diagram online at Sydney Water Tap in™ or from a Property Link broker.

These diagrams show:
- our water, wastewater and stormwater pipes
- a property's point of connection to our wastewater system
- structures or valves that help us operate our systems
- property and road information.
If you're building developing, or renovating, you may need to know about the steps for first time builders.
How can you get a diagram of the private water pipes on your property?
We don't have records of the private drinking water services on your property. We can't provide these diagrams.

We can supply diagrams of:
- private wastewater pipes on most properties
- our water and wastewater mains.
You can buy these diagrams online at Sydney Water Tap in™ or from Property Link brokers.
How can you get a stormwater diagram for your property?

We don't manage the private stormwater system on your property.

Diagrams of your stormwater pipes and pits are generally passed from owner to owner when a property is sold. You may need to contact a licensed plumber to draw a diagram for you if you don't have one.

We can provide a diagram of our stormwater system if it runs within or near your property.

The location of our stormwater pipes are shown in service location diagrams. You can buy these online from Sydney Water Tap in™ or a Property Link broker.

Is your property in our stormwater catchment area?
Check our stormwater catchment map to find out if your property is in one of our stormwater areas.

Printed on : 19/10/21 00:02

URL: http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/plumbing-building-developing/building/building-over-or-next-to-assets/index.htm

Copyright: © Sydney Water 2021