Pre connection enquiry
The first application, at the start of the design, which returns a Confirmation of Feasibility for the planning application.
Contents
Every development that connects to the public water or wastewater network goes through Uisce Éireann, the body that was Irish Water. It is a sequence of applications, each with a wait, and the waits add up to the better part of a year before anyone is connected.
We run it as the client's agent: the pre connection enquiry, the design submission, the connection application and agreement, the diversion of any Uisce Éireann pipe that crosses the site, and the build over or build near agreement where a building comes close to one.
On site we attend the quality checks and pressure tests, produce the as built drawings, and close out the defects period until the network is handed over. The water and wastewater design itself is part of the drainage design.
What we handle
The process, and how long it takes
The averages are Uisce Éireann's own. The stages run one after another, so the first application is worth making as early as the design allows.
Plan your connection
Connected around
About 56 weeks in
Enter the date the pre connection enquiry goes in to see the dates.
Make the connection application on week 28.
- Pre connection enquiry to Confirmation of Feasibilityweek 0 to week 16, 16 weeksUisce Éireann average
- Planning permissionweek 16 to week 28, 12 weeksYour programme
- Connection application to connection offerweek 28 to week 44, 16 weeksUisce Éireann average
- Constructionweek 28 to week 54, 26 weeksYour programme
- Road opening licence to connectionweek 44 to week 56, 12 weeksUisce Éireann average
- Defects periodweek 56 to week 108, 52 weeksUisce Éireann, from the conformance certificate
Uisce Éireann's averages, not its promises: any stage can run longer. The design acceptance happens alongside the enquiry, before the planning application, and the connection needs the offer accepted, the network built and inspected, and the road opening licence in place.
| Stage | What happens | Typical wait |
|---|---|---|
| Pre connection enquiry | Uisce Éireann checks there is capacity and returns a Confirmation of Feasibility, which goes in with the planning application | About 16 weeks on average. |
| Design acceptance | The water and wastewater layout is checked against the Code of Practice and a Statement of Design Acceptance issued | Before the planning application is finalised. |
| Connection application | After permission, the application is made and Uisce Éireann issues a connection offer | About 16 weeks on average. |
| Connection agreement | The offer is accepted and becomes the agreement, setting out the quality checks, upgrades and charges | On acceptance. |
| Construction | The developer builds the network, Uisce Éireann's field engineers inspect it, and the mains are pressure tested | With the build. |
| Connection | Uisce Éireann obtains the road opening licence and makes the connection | About 12 weeks from the licence. |
| Handover | A conformance certificate starts a 12 month defects period, then final checks, a completion certificate and the security released | 12 months or more. |
What you receive
One office between the client and Uisce Éireann, from the first enquiry to the last certificate.
- Every application prepared and submitted as your agent, and the correspondence handled
- Layouts to the Code of Practice and standard details in force for the application
- Diversion and build over applications, with the method statements and surveys they need
- Attendance at site quality checks and pressure tests
- As built drawings and the records the handover needs
- The defects period closed out and the network handed over
