Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure

11 Water Supply and Wastewater Infrastructure Development proposals must ensure that adequate water supply and wastewater infrastructure exists or will be provided to serve the development. A. Requirements Proposals must: 1. Demonstrate, in consultation with the relevant water company, that a reliable water supply exists or will be made available to serve the development. 2. Ensure sufficient foul sewerage and wastewater treatment capacity exists, or will be delivered ahead of occupation, without causing detriment to the existing network or water environment. 3. Comply with the Surface Water Drainage Hierarchy and keep surface water and foul drainage systems separate. 4. Prevent deterioration of water quality in watercourses or groundwater, individually or cumulatively and ensure arrangements align with Water Framework Directive objectives and relevant River Basin Management Plans. 5. Not compromise access to, or the safe and efficient operation of, existing water supply, sewerage, or wastewater treatment infrastructure. Appropriate mitigation or diversion measures must be secured where necessary. B. Major Development Major developments, and smaller proposals where water or wastewater capacity constraints exist, must be supported by an Outline Foul Drainage Strategy, showing: • Required foul drainage assets and proposed points of connection; • Whether adoption by the water company is intended; • Any sewer requisitions, diversions, or reinforcement works; • Phasing arrangements to ensure water and wastewater infrastructure is delivered in step with occupation. C. Amenity Assessments Development near wastewater treatment works or significant sewerage infrastructure must be supported by appropriate assessments (e.g. odour, noise, aerosols) and demonstrate acceptable living conditions without constraining operations. D. New or Upgraded Water Infrastructure Proposals for new or upgraded water supply or wastewater treatment infrastructure where required to meet the needs of planned growth, address existing deficiencies, or improve environmental outcomes, provided environmental and amenity impacts are acceptable, will be supported. Policy ID.11 ~ Development Management Considerations Where upgrades to the wastewater network or treatment works are required, planning permission will depend on securing their delivery through planning conditions, obligations, or other mechanisms agreed with the water company. The Surface Water Drainage Hierarchy is set out in the National SuDS Standards and CIRIA SuDS Manual (C753). Surface water and foul drainage systems must be kept separate. Any connection of surface water to foul sewers are unacceptable unless approved by the SuDS Approval Body (SAB) and only where no other viable option exists. Find out more about Water Framework Directive objectives and relevant River Basin Management Plans. Policy Justification 3.4.11 Development can place significant pressure on water resources and wastewater infrastructure. Without coordination, growth may exceed available water supply capacity, overload sewerage networks, or adversely affect the water environment. 3.4.12 While this policy primarily targets major development, the cumulative impacts of minor development should also be considered. Applicants are expected to liaise with the relevant water company to confirm capacity and phasing requirements. 3.4.13 Severn Trent Water is the statutory water supply and sewerage undertaker for South Warwickshire. Although developments with planning permission currently have a right to connect to the public water and foul sewer networks, this does not guarantee that sufficient capacity exists. Early engagement with Severn Trent Water is therefore essential to identify any necessary network or treatment upgrades and to ensure that development can be phased appropriately. 3.4.14 The potential enactment of Schedule 3 of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 will remove the automatic right to connect surface water to the public sewer network. Any connection will require approval from the SuDS Approval Body (SAB) and should only be permitted where no other viable option exists. 3.4.15 This policy should be read alongside other Local Plan policies on water efficiency, flood risk management and sustainable drainage systems (SuDS). Together, they ensure growth is coordinated with water resour