Connections and disconnections

Here's what you need to do

There's plenty you'll need to think about before you connect to or disconnect from our services, starting with the water, wastewater and stormwater services that you need – or don't need. You'll need to understand all our application requirements and use listed providers.

Plan your connections or disconnections

First, think about the water, wastewater and stormwater services you need. If you want to connect a development that's more complicated than a standard house, it's a good idea to engage a hydraulic consultant. They can:

• work out the best sized water connection and meter for your needs
• design any pumps, tanks or wastewater equipment you need.

You'll also need to assess the site to determine our backflow requirements and find out if you need to meet our stormwater quality targets. It's a good idea to read and understand our Connecting to our systems (297KB) and Responsibility of connected customers (364KB) policies.

Make your connection

You need to engage a provider when we approve your connection. Choose a listed provider to make your connection and finish your plumbing work.  

Which provider do you need?

• Listed drillers can make water main connections. If it's a very large connection or unusual pipe, we must make your connection.
• Listed constructors can make a new point of connection to our gravity wastewater pipe. They can make short extensions to our system if we've given you permission.
• Licensed plumbers can join your private plumbing to an existing water or wastewater connection. When you make a new water connection, you must get a licensed plumber to install the water pipe from the point of connection to the meter. 
• Licensed plumbers must install the water meter within 2 days of connection. If you want us to install the meter, apply at Sydney Water Tap in™ and we'll install it free of charge.
• Accredited backflow plumbers must assess your site's hazard rating if you have a commercial or industrial property. A licensed plumber must install the right kind of backflow device and it must be tested every year by an accredited backflow plumber.
• Licensed plumbers with experience working in confined spaces must make your stormwater connection.

We must make your water main connection if:

• our water mains are larger than 200mm
• your connection will be bigger than 50mm
• our pipes are made of any material except PVC (polyvinyl chloride), DICL (ductile iron cement lined) or CIL (cast iron concrete lined)
• our pipes were laid before 1930.

Get your plumbing inspected

NSW Fair Trading's role

NSW Fair Trading inspects plumbing on private property. This ensures it complies with the Plumbing Code of Australia. Plumbers must pay the inspection fees and book an inspection with NSW Fair Trading. You can no longer pay us the inspection fees.

Sydney Water's role

We're responsible for ensuring connections to our pipes meet our standards. We might inspect some plumbing installations to make sure they meet our conditions of connection. This may include plumbing such as tanks, pumps and wastewater treatment equipment.

Fit a water meter

You must have a meter fitted to your water service before you start using our water. Failing to fit a water meter is water theft and fines may apply. 

You don't need to fit a meter to a fire service unless we ask you to. Meters must be fitted to fire hose reel services.

Move into your building

You can move in and occupy your building when council or a private certifier issues an occupation certificate. They'll need to see a copy of our Section 73 Compliance Certificate. This certifies that any works we require to our water or wastewater systems have been completed to our standards