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Information to help you understand our requirements where it is not possible to work outside the Prescribed Proximities of our assets.

Image illustration building  near sewers Image illustration designing footings Image illustration protecting pipelines

Where it is not possible to work outside the Prescribed Proximities of our assets, we may identify specific requirements that apply to your work.

Review Section 8 of our working near our assets guidelines to find out about our technical requirements for different types of work.

Please read and understand all sections of the guideline that apply to your work – there may be more than one section that is relevant.

The ground cover (depth from ground level to top of pipe) over buried assets provides support and protection from excessive loads and damage.

The table below provides a guide to our minimum cover requirements for different types of assets depending on their location.

Minimum ground cover requirements  
Type of asset Location Minimum cover
Trunk and distribution water mains Road reserves, car parks and other trafficable areas
Parklands, private property and other non-trafficable areas
1500mm
600mm
 Water reticulation Road reserves, car parks and other non-trafficable areas
Parklands, private property and other non-trafficable areas
600mm
600mm
Sewer reticulation and sewer mains Road reserves, car parks and other trafficable areas
Parklands, private property and other non-trafficable areas
900mm
750mm
Sewer and drainage pressure mains Freeways and other primary distributor roads
Other trafficable areas as well as parklands, private property and other non-trafficable areas
1500mm
900mm
Main drains Road reserves, car parks and other trafficable areas
Parklands private property and other non-trafficable areas
900mm
750mm
Residential service connections Road reserves, car parks and other trafficable areas
Parklands private property and other non-trafficable areas
450mm
450mm

Maintaining adequate clearance distances to other services is essential to ensure adequate access for future maintenance, repairs or replacement. Some of our requirements for access include:

  • an access way of at least 1.0m wide is to be maintained around the edge of sewer and drain maintenance structures at all times
  • a headroom of at least 2.4m is to be maintained at all times between ground level and the underside of an overhanging structure such as a roof.

Where other underground services (such as gas mains, power cables, telecommunication cables) cross our assets, the following clearances shall apply:

Caption describing what the table is about for screen readers
Diameter of our asset Minimum clearance for services installed by open excavation Minimum clearance for service crossings installed by trenchless excavation
Less than 300mm At least 150mm At least 150mm + equipment accuracy (mm)
300mm or greater At least 300mm At least 300mm + equipment accuracy (mm)

All services should cross at, or close to right angles to our assets.

More information

If you need further advice on applying the requirements or if you need additional information not covered in the working near our assets guidelines or damage prevention brochure, please email pos_enquiries@watercorporation.com.au.