Before you start construction, learn about applying for a Certificate of Acceptance (CoA) and completing compliance statements.
On 1 July 2024, the official height standard NZVD2016 will be adopted.
Here’s a visual of the process or see below to unpack details of each step.
How to apply for a Certificate of Acceptance (CoA)
A CoA certifies that any water or wastewater asset built under Auckland Council Engineering Planning Approval (EPA) meets Council requirements and our code of practice. A CoA is required for you to apply to Auckland Council for your 224C and EACC.
Pre-construction meetingOnce you have engineering approval from Auckland Council you’ll need to apply for a pre-construction meeting.
One of our technicians, the contractor, and the consulting engineer will need to attend this on-site meeting. Together, we will assess the approved plans. Our compliance inspectors will also confirm a monitoring schedule, if it’s appropriate. Depending on your project’s risk level, this could include site inspections.
Site inspectionsConsultants and contractors self-certify their work by completing compliance statements and providing quality control evidence, largely eliminating the need for scheduled inspections. However, we still carry out random audits during construction, and for high-risk developments, we may still maintain scheduled inspections.
We’ll let you know at your pre-construction meeting, if you require a site inspection. The cost of an inspection is based on planning, travel, and time on site.
Asset acceptanceIf you are constructing a pressurised network (water), sewer or vacuum system; or need isolation or significant flow management, we will need to confirm all the work is done according to our engineer Code of Practise (CoP). We need to check this off before you can connect these to the existing public network.
Before you apply to connect to our pipes, complete the CS3 construction works form and CS4 construction monitoring form. You’ll need to sign into our developer portal to upload these documents.
Only Watercare can connect a pressure network (water), sewer, or vacuum system to the existing network. So, if you require this, we will need to do the connection work for you.
You can sign into our developer portal and request a quote to connect after your pre-construction meeting (refer to process 1A in the Compliance process graphic), however, you will need to have been granted asset acceptance before we connect you.
Final walk-overOnce you have met all the conditions relating to the EPA you may book a final walk-over (inspection).
Your consulting engineer and contractor must be there for the inspection too. If you did not apply for your pre-construction meeting online, please contact [email protected]
Certificate of acceptance (CoA)To apply for your CoA, sign in to the developer portal and attach these documents:
Once you provide all the documentation, our development engineers will review your application. We will notify you of the outcome within 10 working days. To avoid delays, please ensure you have provided all documents required including design or field amendments.
If you did not apply for your pre-construction meeting online, please contact [email protected]
We will charge you once the CoA process is complete. The billing details we use will be the same as those provided to us by your representative. Normally, the developer or consulting engineer will pay this charge.
Sign in to the developer portal to see our costs and fees breakdown.
Once we receive payment, we’ll email you your Certificate of Acceptance (CoA) and Watercare stamped Asbuilt.
