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New Appointment and Variations (NAVs)

Here, we'll explain what new appointment and variations (NAVs) are, how they work, and how they can make a bulk supply or discharge application.

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Becoming a NAV

New Appointment and Variations (NAVs) are companies that replace another water company as the appointee for an area. They also provide water and/or wastewater services to customers in a defined area.

In order to become a NAV, your limited company will need to go through a new appointment and variations application and be appointed by Ofwat.

These are the conditions for a limited company to be granted NAV status:

  • The company must supply water and wastewater in the order of at least 50 megalitres per year.
  • The site is ‘unserved’, meaning no premises within the area are served by an appointed company. This criterion applies to both water and wastewater services.
  • The existing appointed company consents to the transfer of that area.
Making a bulk clean water application Making a bulk wastewater application
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Making a bulk clean water application

Below is a guide on what a NAV will need to do when making a bulk clean water application. Before applying, please read our New Application and Variations Application Form Guidance Notes. These will take you through what is required, including: A NAV site boundary plan (with boundary drawn in green).

A development site plan at 1:1250 (or larger); and, if known, the preferred point of water and/or waste connection marked on plans. If the scheme is part of a wider development, please include the scheme boundaries on the plan. Drainage plans with levels. Route of the rising main if there is an onsite wastewater pumping station. An intrusive soil analysis report (if commissioned). We'll stay in touch along the way to make sure everything runs smoothly.

1

Send us a site status request

An unserved site will not include any existing water or sewer connections to our network. You can ask for a site status request by sending an email: newappointments@southernwater.co.uk. Or, you can request one in your NAV application. Within 21 days we will confirm whether we currently serve the site or not.

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Apply online

Fill in the online form using our GetConnected portal and pay your application fee. Please remember to pay your NAV application fee appropriate to the size of the development. We'll review your application and respond within five days to confirm that the documentation is complete or ask for more information.

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We'll send you a Bulk Service Offer

Within 28 days, we will carry out a capacity check on our network and assess any connection costs and design. Then, we'll send you a Bulk Service Offer. For bulk supply requests, we will also include:
A bulk supply design plan. A point of connection calculation sheet.
A NAV customer acceptance form. A ‘Ways to pay’ document.

4

Accept and pay

You'll need to review, accept the offer and make a payment to progress. If you are happy with the Bulk Service Offer, you can respond to us by accepting the offer via the GetConnected online dashboard.

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We'll send you a Bulk Service Agreement

We’ll produce a Bulk Service Agreement within 28 days and send it to you for signature. Once you're ready to accept and pay, you'll need to do the following: Ensure the bulk service offer is still valid, and if required, request an updated estimate. Make payment for the bulk supply and/or bulk discharge connection costs set out in the offer. Sign and return the NAV customer acceptance form (if applicable).

6

Pre-start meeting and construction works

After you've accepted and we have countersigned the bulk supply agreement, we'll pass the site to our Project Delivery team for the construction works. We'll arrange a pre-start meeting at your development site. In this meeting, we'll confirm the start date and agree on a schedule for the programme of work required.

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Final inspection

Our team will install the apparatus and confirm it's ready for your connection. You'll then need to submit a chlorination certificate. After this, we'll arrange a final inspection and activate the new connection to our network. The connection will now be live, and you'll be responsible for the billing going forwards.

Making a bulk wastewater application 

Below is a guide on what a NAV will need to do when making a bulk wastewater application. Before applying, please read our NAV Application Form Guidance Notes. These will take you through what's required, including: A NAV site boundary plan (with boundary drawn in green).

A development site plan at 1:1250 (or larger); and, if known, the preferred point of water and/or waste connection marked on plans. If the scheme is part of a wider development, please include the scheme boundaries on the plan. Drainage plans with levels. Route of the rising main if there is an onsite wastewater pumping station. An intrusive soil analysis report (if commissioned). We'll stay in touch along the way to make sure everything runs smoothly.

1

Send us a site status request

An unserved site will not include any existing water or sewer connections to our network. You can ask for a site status request by sending an email: newappointments@southernwater.co.uk. Or, you can request one in your NAV application. Within 21 days, we'll confirm whether we currently serve the site or not.

2

Apply online

Fill in the online form using our GetConnected portal and pay your application fee. Please remember to pay your NAV application fee appropriate to the size of the development. We'll review your application and respond within five days to confirm that the documentation is complete or ask for more information.

3

We'll send you a Bulk Service Offer

Within 28 days, we will carry out a capacity check on our network and assess any connection costs and design. After this, we'll send you a Bulk Service Offer. The bulk discharge costs will be in line with the current charging arrangements. For NAV sites with onsite wastewater pumping stations, we offer a NAV pumping station discount. You can find more information on this in our Methodology of NAV charges and NAV Charging Arrangement documents.

4

We'll send you a Bulk Service Agreement

If you're happy with the Bulk Service Offer, you can respond to us by accepting the offer via the GetConnected online dashboard. Once you have accepted, we'll put together the Bulk Service Agreement within 28 days and send it to you. You'll then need to sign the agreement and pay the bulk discharge connection costs.

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Request a connection and send drawings

You’ll need to submit S106 application information to request a sewer connection and send construction drawings. You should also include your contractor details in the ‘comments’ box. Please also provide: Copies of the drainage layout plan at 1:100 (or larger), showing the location of sewers and manholes on site and up to the connection point. A copy of planning consent. The site location plan at 1:1250 (or larger). We’ll check that your proposal meets our standards and will send our approval.

6

Complete your construction works

Now, you can carry out the work on site to connect to our sewer. At least two working days before the works, contact us to arrange an inspection.

7

We'll issue a completion letter

Once we're happy that your wastewater connection complies with our requirements, we'll send you a completion letter. The connection will now be live, and you'll be responsible for the billing going forwards.

Need more support?

For general enquiries not related to NAV applications, please fill in the form with as much information as possible to help us handle your enquiry.

Alternatively you can email us at newappointments@southernwater.co.uk.

New Appointment and Variations