Alternative Water Supply Connection

[MortarThePoint]

Two relatively simple questions:

1. Will Building Control sign off a house without a finished water connection?
2. Is it legal to take the water supply from an existing dwelling that you also own?

That second option is a possible short to medium term option that avoids the delays associated with the water company connection as well as possibly the cost if it became more permanent. I would be paying the water bill for both houses anyway.

[Kelvin]

We have a private water supply. The planning condition noted we had to have a potable water supply but at no point was it checked that we did actually have one. This is in Scotland. 
 

Don’t know about sharing a supply from another house. I’d think the new house will need its own supply. 

[JohnMo]

We are also private water, no-one checked anything. There was nothing on our plans that stated how water was being sourced.

 

There is only so much the inspector will look at, where water is being taken from isn't something likely to even be on the radar. 

[saveasteading]

1. The question. I dont think the bco cares about the ownership.

2. Re private supply: For the steading we had to provide a water quality test.

The water is sourced at a spring about 1km uphill, then rigorously treated.

[MortarThePoint]

41 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

We are also private water

 

33 minutes ago, saveasteading said:

Re private supply: For the steading we had to provide a water quality test.

 

More straight forward with a private supply as I am sure it would be OK to share that. I like the idea of a borehole, but was led to believe it would cost around £20k and with ongoing maintenance/filtering costs.

 

We have mains water o supply to the house which we are living in during the build, so it would be easy to piggy back off that

[Conor]

Can't normally share a domestic supply between properties. you'll ultimately need an independent supply for the new dwelling. That will be when you mortgage or sell. Bite the bullet and get it done now.

[JohnMo]

34 minutes ago, MortarThePoint said:

£20k

Really depends on depth and company. We are 34m depth fully steel pipe lined and was under £5k, the pump and filter package is site dependent our 40L/min pump and filter system was about £3k. So £8k all in. Annual service is about £100 to £150.

 

Water and drainage being off grid saves us £1k in charges to the council.

[saveasteading]

45 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

Water and drainage being off grid saves us £1k in charges to the council.

But water mains supply isn't very expensive . Is it about £2/m3?  Against that count the maintenance and pumping.

 

On the current project I am designing in about 8m3 of rainwater storage for gardening and other outdoor use.

 

@MortarThePoint. The water company will want to charge you for sewage at the same volume as bought in water. You will have to explain it to them, which might be interesting with 2 addresses.

 

 

[MortarThePoint]

1 hour ago, saveasteading said:

The water company will want to charge you for sewage

 

Good thought, but that won't apply as both houses have sewage treatment plants

[JohnMo]

1 hour ago, saveasteading said:

But water mains supply isn't very expensive . Is it about £2/m3?  Against that count the maintenance and pumping.

 

On the current project I am designing in about 8m3 of rainwater storage for gardening and other outdoor use.

 

@MortarThePoint. The water company will want to charge you for sewage at the same volume as bought in water. You will have to explain it to them, which might be interesting with 2 addresses.

 

 

In Scotland you pay by council tax band generally not by m3.  There are two rates, one for water and the other for waste water. Water charge is £463.20 and waste water £537.45 

[JohnMo]

22 hours ago, JohnMo said:

Annual service is about £100 to £150.

Just to update cost for last annual service (yesterday) was £196. Mostly labour and travel time.

[sharpener]

On 04/11/2025 at 11:06, JohnMo said:

Just to update cost for last annual service (yesterday) was £196. Mostly labour and travel time.

 

I know this is a borehole so different from my rainwater harvesting but am interested to know what treatment processes you have and exactly what servicing they do for your £150.

[JohnMo]

It's pretty simple a big backwash filter to get rid of sediment and to treat iron, then a 10 and 5 micron filter and UV filter.

 

Between pump and treatment there is an accumulator with pressure switch to start and stop pump.

 

Service

Drain down system, check and set pre charge pressure on accumulator, check settings on accumulator pump stop/start switch, replace UV filter. Backwash filter check media for breakdown and levels, top up as needed, check functionality of backwash system.

 

Also included is drive time and fuel milage - part share with others in the area getting a service the same day 

[sharpener]

21 hours ago, JohnMo said:

Service

Drain down system, check and set pre charge pressure on accumulator, check settings on accumulator pump stop/start switch, replace UV filter. Backwash filter check media for breakdown and levels, top up as needed, check functionality of backwash system.

 

Thanks. Compared with an HP service for £200 I would say you are getting good value. Does that include a new UV lamp? My last one was nearly £100 on its own.

[JohnMo]

11 minutes ago, sharpener said:

new UV lamp? My last one was nearly £100 on its own

Includes lamp and seal plus full clean of quartz, the lamp are £25 + £4 for seal both plus vat