Water is essential to life. Indeed, it is a precious and indispensable resource and also a public health issue. In France, the drinking water network has an estimated length of 996,000 kilometers and the annual consumption per capita is 54 m3. Even if it is not compulsory, because nothing prevents, under certain conditions, to connect to a private well, the connection to drinking water is essential and remains one of the first achievements of the development of a land.
First of all, a question arises: what exactly is a water branch? How much does it cost? The second issue that will interest us is the steps to be taken so that this connection can be made. This is what we propose you to discover below. At the end of this article, you will know everything you need to know about water connections.
The drinking water branch or connection to the drinking water distribution network is the last step of the drinking water supply process. it is what will allow the connection of the public network to a private domain. It goes from the water intake on the public pipe to the metering equipment, the latter being an integral part of the system.
Briefly, the principle of the connection will consist of digging a narrow trench to lay the pipes. These will be installed on a bed of sand and will also be covered with a layer of sand before burial. The goal is to reduce the pressure exerted by the earth. A manhole will also be created in order to be able to install a meter and access it. A valve will also be added for obvious reasons. Finally, the main line will be drilled to allow access to the water for this new extension of the network.
The cost of a connection to the public water distribution network is not very high. Indeed, it is necessary to count approximately 800 to 1 500€ for a simple connection of a length lower than 10 meters. However, if the distance between the public network and the meter location is greater, an additional cost of about 45 to 50€ per linear meter will be added. As far as possible, the meter is placed at the property limit.
Also, if the file is more complex, depending on the state of the soil in particular, additional costs will be added. For example, depending on the structure of the ground, the depth of the trench may be greater, thus generating an increase in the invoice. In any case, any intervention will be subject to a preliminary and compulsory estimate which will make it possible to know the rate in advance.
Some additional costs are also to be taken into account. In particular, elements must be provided for the branching request file. Some of these documents are not free. For example, a ground plan costs about 100€. As for the site plan, the price is fixed by the architect and starts at 2.000€. The building permit, which must be requested anyway, represents about 2.5 to 4% of the total amount of the work, if an architect is involved.
In France, the municipality has mandatory jurisdiction over water distribution. It cannot refuse a connection to the public network in the areas defined by its drinking water distribution plan. The obligation to provide a service is exercised, except for unauthorized construction or construction that does not comply with town planning regulations.
Each municipality can only be served by a single drinking water distributor. It is this distribution company that is the only one authorized to intervene for the connection of drinking water on the public domain. In France, Veolia, Suez and Saur alone account for almost 2/3 of the market. For the private part, which goes from the meter to the building in question, the owner is free to use the company of his choice.
The first step is to contact the town hall of the place concerned to find out who the service provider is. In some cities, the city hall receives the files and transmits them directly.
The application file must include documents in addition to a connection request form. This one is not a cerfa, each company has its own, available at the town hall or on the internet. Additional documents must be attached. A copy of the building permit, a ground plan and a location plan as well as an extract of the cadastral plan are required. In the case of a subdivision, a plot plan will also be required in order to precisely identify the lot concerned.
This water branching request should ideally be made before starting construction so that the company is not hindered by the masonry work. It is recommended to do it as soon as the building permit is obtained.
Indeed, the city hall must grant the authorization. A delay of 15 days is usual but can go up to one month depending on the town. Then the company in charge of the water distribution must establish an estimate and send it to the customer. The latter, after sending back the signed estimate, has a 14-day withdrawal period. It is only after this period that the company will be able to start the works and once the various authorizations have been obtained. Indeed, a road permission will have to be delivered by the city hall, as for any modification of the public subsoil. In total, between the request and the realization of the connection works, it is necessary to count a total of 3 months on average.
As stated above, the municipality is responsible for the drinking water distribution scheme for the area it serves. Areas for which the commune cannot refuse a connection (article L. 2224-7-1 of the general code of local authorities)
However, there is no general obligation to connect to the network. Owners can choose to connect to the public network or not, depending on whether the house has an autonomous supply, for example through a borehole.
Concerning the branching to the sewerage system, it is a bit different. According to the law(article L1331-1 of the Public Health Code) in the case where your municipality has set up a wastewater treatment network (or collective sewerage network) your house must be connected to it if these three criteria are respected:
- Sewerage systems are established under the public highway
- The buildings have access to this public road either directly or through private roads or easements of passage
- The building is located on a parcel of land in the collective sanitation zone where domestic wastewater will be collected
If your home is not yet connected and if you meet these criteria, you have two years to complete the connection, also known as servicing work.
Contact your local city hall to assess your situation.
If your home is not connected to the network, it must be equipped with a non-collective sanitation installation, most often a septic tank and in rarer cases a micro-purification station. This individual installation is also mandatory. If you choose to install a non-collective sanitation system when you meet the 3 criteria mentioned above, your local council may oblige you to connect. If this obligation is not respected, your sanitation fee can be increased.
Note on the branch to the wastewater system:
As stated above, the municipality is responsible for the drinking water distribution scheme for the area it serves. Areas for which the commune cannot refuse a connection(article L. 2224-7-1 of the general code of local authorities)
However, there is no general obligation to connect to the network. Owners can choose to connect to the public network or not, depending on whether the house has an autonomous supply, for example through a borehole.
Concerning the connection to the sewerage system, it is a bit different. According to the law (article L1331-1 of the Public Health Code) in the case where your municipality has set up a wastewater treatment network (or collective sewerage network) your house must be connected to it if these three criteria are respected:
- Sewerage systems are established under the public highway
- The buildings have access to this public road either directly or through private roads or easements of passage
- The building is located on a parcel of land in the collective sanitation zone where domestic wastewater will be collected
If your home is not yet connected and if you meet these criteria, you have two years to complete the connection, also known as servicing work.
Contact your local city hall to assess your situation.
If your home is not connected to the network, it must be equipped with a non-collective sanitation installation, most often a septic tank and in rarer cases a micro-purification station. This individual installation is also mandatory. If you choose to install a non-collective sanitation system when you meet the 3 criteria mentioned above, your local council may oblige you to connect. If this obligation is not respected, your sanitation fee can be increased.
