Listed drillers can:
- make water main connections.
If it's a very large connection or unusual pipe, Sydney Water must make your connection.
Licensed plumbers can apply for and complete water, wastewater and stormwater connections and disconnections.
Get started
Before you apply, review the water, wastewater and stormwater services available at the site. This will help you identify the approvals and connections you need.
Read our application requirements. You may need property details, site plans or other supporting information.
Check whether the site must meet our:
If the project involves building or excavation work, the property owner is responsible for building plan approval. You can get free plans of our assets from Before You Dig Australia (BYDA).
Applicants are responsible for application and connection costs. See our developer pricing.
For developments more complex than a standard house, you may need to engage a hydraulic consultant. A hydraulic consultant can:
- work out the right water connection and meter size
- design pumps, tanks or wastewater equipment.
For more information, see the connecting to our systems policy and your responsibilities when connected to our services policy.
Sign up for Sydney Water Tap in®
Sydney Water Tap in gives you access to convenient online Sydney Water application forms for all sorts of building and development projects, and provides step-by-step instructions on what you need to support them.
Apply to connect
Before starting any connection, apply for the required approvals through Sydney Water Tap in®.
Use Tap in to apply for:
- water connections
- wastewater connections
- stormwater connections to single houses
- permission to discharge trade wastewater.
Special connection types
Contact us for stormwater harvesting, sewer mining and some priority sewerage program connections.
Who can make the connection?
After we approve the connection, different parts of the work may need to be done by a listed provider, licensed plumber or Sydney Water.
Will Sydney Water own the assets?
Consider engaging a water servicing coordinator.
Listed constructors can:
- make a new connection point to our gravity wastewater pipe
- make short extensions to our system if we approve the work.
Licensed plumbers can:
- connect private plumbing to an existing water connection
- connect private plumbing to an existing wastewater connection
- make stormwater connections if they have experience working in confined spaces.
For a new water connection, a licensed plumber must:
- install the water pipe from the connection point to the meter
- install the meter within 2 days of the connection being made.
For more information, see metering requirements for plumbers.
For commercial and industrial sites, an accredited backflow plumber:
- must assess the site's hazard rating
- must test the device each year.
For more information, see backflow prevention requirements for plumbers.
We must make the water main connection if:
- the water main is larger than 200 mm
- the connection is larger than 50 mm
- the pipes are made of any material except PVC (polyvinyl chloride), DICL (ductile iron cement lined) or CICL (cast iron concrete lined)
- the pipes were laid before 1930.
Install a water meter
Before a property owner can use our water, a water meter or metered standpipe must be installed by Sydney Water, our contractors, or a licensed plumber.
You don't need to install a meter for a fire service unless we ask you to. Meters must be installed for fire hose reel services.
For more information, see metering requirements for plumbers.
Report water theft
Water theft occurs when someone uses water without a meter. This includes using a standpipe without a meter. You can report water theft anonymously.
Connect pool and spa drainage
Do not connect pool or spa drainage to the stormwater system. Chlorinated pool and spa water must discharge to the wastewater system so it can be treated.
When installing plumbing for a pool or spa, make sure there is a compliant connection to the wastewater system for draining and maintenance activities, such as backwashing.
Sydney Water approves pool backwash and overflow discharge to the wastewater system if:
- the discharge is through the pool backwash pump system
- the flow rate does not exceed 2 litres per second
- the connection to the wastewater system is through an overflow gully installed in accordance with AS/NZS 3500.
Do not connect a direct gravity overflow from a pool or spa to the wastewater system.
If the pool is 50 metres long, you must get permission to discharge commercial trade wastewater.
Apply to disconnect
If a site no longer needs a water service, a licensed plumber must disconnect the service at the water main after the application is approved.
To disconnect a water or wastewater service, apply at Sydney Water Tap in.
Get the plumbing inspected
Building Commission NSW inspects plumbing on private property to ensure it meets the Plumbing Code of Australia. Inspections are generally required when the work is finished and before backfilling.
We check that connections to our pipes meet our standards and conditions of connection. We may inspect plumbing connected to our services. This can include tanks, pumps and wastewater treatment equipment.
Need an inspection?
Book it through Building Commission NSW.