Building a home comes with all sorts of decisions, from choosing paint colours to picking out tiles. But what about the basics, like water and sewer connections? While these aren’t the most exciting things to think about, without them, your dream home won’t be much of a home at all!
Of course, you’ll need to plan for these in your budget, and understanding how much getting connected to water and sewerage services could cost will help you budget effectively and save you from unexpected expenses. That’s exactly what you’ll find in this guide.
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What’s Included in Water and Sewerage Connections?
Before we start looking at the finer details of the costs, it’s important to take a moment to understand what a water connection and sewer connection actually involve. For most properties, these services include linking your home to the local water supply system and making sure that wastewater is disposed of properly through the sewerage services provided by the local water authority.
A standard water connection usually includes installing water pipes, a water meter, and any extra infrastructure needed to link your property with the nearest water main. The sewer connection involves attaching your property’s drains to the local sewerage system.
What Affects Water and Sewer Connection Costs?
As with any element of your house build, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all process when it comes to connecting water and sewerage services, and there are a few different things that can affect the cost. These include:
Location
Your property’s proximity to existing water mains and sewerage infrastructure can massively impact your costs. For example, a home in an established urban area may have easy access to nearby connections, while a property in a newer development or rural area might need extra work to extend the system.
Type of Connection Required
The type of connection needed (standard or non-standard) will also affect both the installation process and the cost. Of the two, non-standard connections are usually more expensive as they often involve specialised equipment, additional permits, and even traffic management, all of which can increase the connection fee.
Service and Pipe Sizes
Your water and sewer connections need to handle your household’s water use and flow, and larger properties might need larger water pipes or a higher-capacity sewerage system. Unsurprisingly, these come with a higher price tag, and the larger the house is, the more it’s likely to cost.
Existing Infrastructure
If there is already an existing water meter or hydrant near your property, you could save on installation costs, which is always a welcome thing when building a new home! However, you may still need to pay for any adjustments or special meter reading services, and your local water authority will be able to let you know if these are needed.
General Costs for Water and Sewerage Connections
Keeping the above in mind, and the fact that the costs vary across Australia, there isn’t a set amount for how much it will cost to connect water and sewerage services to your new home. But, to give you a better idea, here are some ballpark figures:
Water Connection Costs
For a standard water service connection fee, you can expect to pay between $1,500 and $4,000, depending on your location and the infrastructure already in place. This cost usually covers the water meter, pipes, and the basic installation process.
Sewerage Connection Costs
A sewer connection is usually more expensive than a water connection, and prices can range from $3,000 to $10,000, especially if work needs to be done to install or extend the sewerage system.
Hidden Costs You Should Know About
While those are the basic costs, they often don’t cover all of the work involved, and there are some extra costs that can creep in and push the final price up even higher.
Inspection and Approval Fees
Before your property can be connected to the water supply system and sewerage services, your local water authority will need to carry out inspections and approve the work. These inspections can be a hassle, but they make sure that the plumbing on your property meets local standards and that the connections won’t cause any issues with the broader infrastructure.
The fees for these inspections vary by location and can range from $100 to $500, and you may have to pay an application fee on top of this just to being the process. For example, in some areas, water authorities may charge an additional $150 to $300 for initial paperwork and processing.
Learn more about building inspection costs.
Traffic Management Costs
If your water and sewerage connection work affects public roads, the local council is likely to request a Traffic Management Plan to ensure the safety of workers and the general public during the installation. You’ll be expected to cover the costs of the Traffic Management Plan and everything it entails, which can add hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars to your bill, depending on the location and complexity of the project.
Read more about traffic management costs.
Non-Standard Connections
Not all locations have water mains or sewerage systems running nearby, and if your property requires a new connection to an extended line, you’ll be responsible for the cost of that work. As always, this will depend on the complexity of the project and the distance of your home to the nearest services, and prices could range from $5,000 to $20,000.
The Connection Process
To give you a better idea of what to expect, here’s a closer look at what’s involved with the water and sewerage connection process:
Consult Your Local Water Authority
Every region in Australia is managed by different water authorities, and each has its own set of rules, fees, and procedures for connecting to the water supply and sewerage systems. When you contact your local water authority, they’ll provide you with information on the application process, a list of fees, and guidance on whether your property needs work, like extending a water main.
Submit Your Application
Once you have the necessary information from your local water authority, you’ll need to complete the application forms. This will likely involve including certain documents like detailed plans of your property and plumbing layout, and information about your building specifications (including the type of water connection and sewerage connection you’ll need).
Along with the forms and supporting documents, you’ll also need to pay the application fee at this stage and the specific amount will be made clear by the water authority.
Site Inspection and Approval
After you have submitted your application, a representative from the water authority will visit your property to inspect the site. During this inspection, they’ll look at the location of your water service and sewer connection points, determine how accessible the site is for any extra work, and whether or not there are any challenges to consider. They will also make sure that your proposed plumbing complies with local codes and regulations. If everything checks out, you’ll receive approval and can move forward with installation.
Installation
For your water connection, the installation process usually involves laying down the necessary water pipes and connecting them to the local water main. A water meter will may be installed at this stage, and this allows the water authority to monitor your water use and generate your future bills. The sewer connection involves linking your home’s drains to the local sewerage system, or installing a septic tank if needed, to make sure all wastewaters is safely discharged from your home.
It can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks to install your water and sewerage services, with any additional work like relocating an existing water meter or addressing non-standard connection needs taking much longer than a simple, standard connection.
Testing
Once the installation is complete, the system will undergo testing to make sure everything is functioning correctly. This usually includes checking the flow and pressure of the water service, making sure there are no leaks in the water pipes or sewerage infrastructure, and testing the sewer connection to confirm proper discharge.
If any issues are found, they’ll need to be fixed before everything can be signed off. Assuming everything is in proper working order, your new home is officially connected to the water supply and sewerage system, and you’re ready to go!
Get free advice on your water & sewerage connection from an experienced building broker
Need a helping hand with connecting your new home to water and sewerage services? At Buildi, our team of professional building brokers can help answer any further questions you might have and make the process feel a lot easier. Reach out to us today at 1300 947 132 or use our online Contact Form to get started.
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