Our Water Network Design Engineer John Havers ensures the clean water and wastewater networks that we adopt meet stringent quality and safety standards. Today, he’s shared his insight into our water network design approval process.
John has worked in the water industry for more than 25 years. His extensive experience in the sector means that he’s able to support our clients to implement sustainable water management practices for new clean water and wastewater networks.
How do I submit a water or wastewater network design?
Once you’ve accepted our asset value offer and submitted your NAV licence application, you’ll use our online forms to submit your clean water or wastewater network design. Alongside our design application form, you’ll also need to upload some supporting documents so we can ensure your design meets our adoption standards.
How do I know what documents I need to support my design submission?
Depending on whether you’re submitting a clean water or wastewater design, you’ll need to provide us with certain documents when you complete your application. This will also depend on whether the application is for a residential, mixed-use or industrial and commercial development.
For example, both clean water and wastewater designs need a geo-technical soil analysis report, along with a water pipe risk assessment and flood risk assessment.
You can find details of all the documents we need in the relevant online application forms.
Why is it important to send all the required documents when I submit a design?
We need certain supporting information so we can provide a full review of your application, based on our design standards.
It’s important that all the required documents are completed fully before you send them to us. Some of the documents need to be validated by a specialist – we can’t review your design without that validation.
By making sure you submit all the fully-completed supporting information with your design, it will speed up the design approval process.
How long does it take to approve water and wastewater designs?
Once we’ve received your design application form and all the required documents, we aim to review and approve your clean water or wastewater network design within two to five working days if it meets our standards for adoption.
We know that you want to keep things moving at this stage of your project planning and we pride ourselves on our quick design approval.
What standards must water designs be based on?
All clean water and wastewater networks we adopt and operate must meet the standards defined by the Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS). All designs must be produced by WIRS-accredited design engineers and designs also must comply with DWI and Environment Agency requirements.
As we operate as a NAV company across England and Wales, we’re able to accept designs aligned to national standards, not just regional standards set by the incumbent water companies. This is particularly beneficial for SLPs and developers operating across multiple regions.
What best practice are you seeing in clean water and wastewater design?
When it comes to water efficiency, there’s lots of best practice within properties themselves. For example, roof gardens, tap fittings and water butts. These small measures within individual properties really can make a difference when they’re scaled across entire developments.
We’ve got a focus on sustainable water management practices here at mua, and we’re always keen to help our clients implement those practices within clean water and wastewater design.
Are there any new or upcoming construction requirements that are impacting design?
Fire safety continues to evolve, particularly when it comes to requirements for sprinkler systems. By engaging with us early in the design process, we can support you to design systems that meet the latest guidance and requirements and avoid the need for retrofitting equipment down the line.
What makes our mua Design team different?
We make it easy for you to contact the design engineer supporting your water project, as this can make the design approval process swifter and smoother. You can reach us directly by phone or email. We also offer Teams meetings once your asset value quote has been accepted.
As a multi-utility network operator, we’re acutely aware of the needs of the different utilities when planning and operating infrastructure on your development. By thinking beyond your NAV needs alone, we can ensure more efficient design and co-ordination of all your development’s infrastructure requirements.
