What is a section 104 agreement
Andrew Mccoy
Updated on March 27, 2026
A Section 104 agreement (under the Water Industry Act 1991) is an agreement between a developer and sewerage undertaker for the adoption of sewers serving a development. There are strict regulations in place for obtaining an agreement which can be a minefield for developers.
Do I need a section 104 agreement?
Section 104 of the Water Industry Act 1991 provides a mechanism for newly-constructed private sewers and pumping stations to be ‘adopted’ by the local sewerage authority, who will then maintain them at their own expense. … A Section 104 adoption agreement must be entered into before construction of the sewers begins.
What is a section 185 agreement?
Introduction. Under Section 185 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (S185) where any public sewer, lateral drain or disposal main is situated in private land, any person(s) with an interest in that land or in adjoining land can, by giving notice, require Severn Trent Water (STW) to alter or remove that pipe.
What is a 104 document?
A section 104 agreement usually refers to an agreement made pursuant to section 104 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (WAI 1991, s104). for the area in which the development is taking place.What is a sewer adoption agreement?
This is an agreement between the developer and water company that specifies the criteria of adoption. In short, the developer agrees to build the sewers to an agreed standard, and maintain them for a certain amount of time after the development is occupied, usually a few years.
What is sewer diversion?
If there is a public sewer within your proposed development site, a diversion may be required to allow your development to progress. Developers with an interest in land that contains public water or waste water assets can arrange for the alteration or removal those assets to allow development work to progress.
How long does a Section 104 take?
From here, the approval process can take approximately six weeks, sometimes longer, once the design has been completed and issued. It is key to select the right material type before submission.
What is a build over agreement?
A build over agreement is a Water Authority seal of approval for the building work you plan to have carried out over or near a public sewer owned by them. It gives assurance that you have given the sewer the correct clearance from your new foundations.What is a section 102?
It is a provision in the Water Industry Act which allows an owner of a private sewer to apply to their sewerage provider (United Utilities, in this case) to take over responsibility for the sewer.
What is an adoption agreement?Adoption Agreement means the written agreement pursuant to which the Employer adopts the Plan. The Adoption Agreement is a part of the Plan as applied to the Employer.
Article first time published onWhat is a water adoption agreement?
With water mains, it’s a section 51a agreement (of the 1991 Water Industry Act, although the legislation wasn’t introduced until 2003), which allows a developer to lay a main, and have it adopted by the relevant water company. … With sewers, an adoption agreement is standard practice for laying new mains.
What is adopted drainage?
Adoption of a drainage system through a Section 104 Agreement is for a drainage system which drains private areas (such as roofs and driveways) and also highway drainage (if both drain into the same sewer system). The final adopting Authority is the Sewerage Undertaker.
Why do I need a build over agreement?
Why do I Need a Build Over Agreement? The main purpose of a Build Over Agreement is firstly to ensure that the sewer doesn’t get damaged and secondly to retain access for the water company to carry out its legal duty to repair and maintain sewers.
Are you allowed to cover over a manhole?
The simple answer is yes you can build over a manhole cover.
Can you get a retrospective build over agreement?
A sewerage undertaker can refuse to grant a retrospective build over agreement. If they refuse then insurance is unlikely to be available. Even if consent is granted, the homeowner may be requested to make changes to the property which could result in significant cost being incurred.
Can I move a public sewer?
If you do need to move pipes or manholes, they will need to be completely removed and reconstructed outside of the extension area. For the Application, you will need drawings of your proposed extension and the locations of the sewers and manholes; you will also need to include the flow direction of the sewer.
Can you build over a sewer line?
Building close to or over a public sewer without having obtained formal approval is illegal. It may also jeopardise the future sale of your property.
How much does it cost to divert a sewer UK?
You also need to factor in the cost of getting permission from the local water authority to move the drain, which can be between £200 and £1,300. On average, you can expect to pay between £1,200 and £3,000 to move a drain for an extension. More complex jobs can cost up to £4,500.
Is an adoption agreement the same as a plan document?
An adoption agreement is generally completed for qualified plans, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs and other employer-sponsored retirement plans. … The adoption agreement is not the complete plan document and must be accompanied by a basic plan document, which provides in-depth details of how the plan should operate.
What are the terms of an open adoption?
Generally speaking, open adoptions allow birth parents to have some form of contact with the adoptive family and the adopted child, often in the form of letters, pictures, emails, phone calls, or visits. The adopted children know that they are adopted and many have some level of contact with their birth families.
What Is a Solo 401k adoption agreement?
The Adoption Agreement is used to appoint the individual (generally the business owner) who will serve as trustee of the Solo 401k. My Solo 401k Financial Compliance Officer is always available to explain the role of the Trustee(s).
What replaced sewer for adoption?
As part of the SSG, ‘Sewers for Adoption’ has been replaced by the mandatory ‘Design & Construction Guidance’ (DCG) which gives provision for Sewerage Undertakers to adopt SUDs facilities.
What does a build over indemnity policy cover?
Indemnity Insurance: To protect against any financial loss incurred as a result of the property (or part of the property) being built over a public sewer without a build over agreement. This option will be the quickest and cheapest option and avoids alerting the authority to work they may not agree.
When did build over agreements become law?
From October 2011 a law was passed that stated that all pre existing private sewers and all newly built sewers were to be automatically adopted by the water authority in the area where they are situated.
When did build over agreements come into effect?
Rules are now in place for private sewers, sewers and sewers, but this has only been in effect since 2011. But if your house was built before 1937 and runoff served more than one piece of land, it would have been considered a public sewer in the 1990s.