The procedures of applying for water supply generally include three stages:
- To submit plumbing proposals to the Water Authority (WA)
- To apply for the permission of the WA to commence the approved plumbing works
- To apply for the WA’s inspection and approval of the completed plumbing works.
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Stage 1- Submission and Approval of Plumbing Proposalsexpand
Applicants are required to provide the WA with the following documents for consideration:
- A duly completed application Form WWO 542
- A checklist on documents for inclusion in plumbing proposals;
- Plumbing proposals (including a Vertical Plumb Line Diagram, connection details and the meter box arrangement, etc); and
- A duly completed Form WWO 1149 List of Pipes and Fittings intended to be Installed by the licensed Plumber (Mandatory for Village Houses and Separate Metering, optional for other applications)
Every year, the Water Supplies Department handles a large number of applications for water supply, including those for new buildings, village houses and replumbing.
No. of cases New building Village Houses Replumbing All kinds of cases 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 Q1 151 101 119 115 785 410 460 335 256 246 241 190 1,559 1,315 1424 1092 Q2 132 127 98 669 582 527 251 301 248 1,784 1,653 1566 Q3 107 135 135 672 628 623 288 222 368 1,824 1,706 1772 Q4 110 97 139 606 439 556 238 235 215 1,601 1342 1584 Total 500 460 491 115 2,732 2059 2166 335 1,033 1004 1072 190 6,768 6016 6346 1092 Table 1 - Number of application cases approved by the WA
To streamline the process, enhanced measures have been introduced. They include regulation of the submission arrangement and formulation of a submission check list for plumbing proposals. For more details about the application process, please refer to the Guide to Application for Water Supply.
Stage 2 - Commencement of Plumbing WorksexpandPlumbing works must NOT commence until the plumbing proposal has been approved by the WA in writing. The licensed plumber (LP) is required to submit Form WWO 46 Pt. I & II together with a duly completed Form WWO 1149 (List of Pipes and Fittings intended to be Installed) to apply for the permission of the Water Authority to proceed with the works under the approved plumbing proposal. (For applications with Form WWO 1149 already approved with the plumbing proposal, only Form WWO 46 Part I & II is required.)
No. of cases New building Village Houses Replumbing All kinds of cases 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 Q1 234 260 185 164 452 341 328 193 112 112 106 63 1,475 1,398 1332 1001 Q2 272 312 197 594 409 331 113 133 81 1,763 1,637 1456 Q3 291 253 222 646 366 424 127 111 103 1,890 1,409 1551 Q4 246 162 166 501 318 329 105 101 139 1,622 1281 1525 Total 1,043 987 770 164 2,193 1434 1412 193 457 457 429 63 6,750 5725 5864 1001 Table 2 - Number of permissions to commence plumbing works by the WA
To facilitate preparation of the submissions, a webpage is dedicated to helping applicants to search and select the pipes and fittings with valid General Acceptance (GA) and directly convert to the format of the required Form WWO1149, which can be downloaded for printing and signing, for subsequent submission to the WA. For more details, please see Circular Letter No. 3/2017.
Form WWO46 Pt.III will be issued to the applicant when the proposal submitted is generally acceptable.
Stage 3 - Completion of Plumbing WorksexpandUpon completion of the plumbing works, the licensed plumber is required to notify the WA immediately using Form WWO 46 Pt. IV.
No. of cases New building Village Houses Replumbing All kinds of cases 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 2019 2020 2021 2022 Q1 236 203 182 315 526 371 332 375 108 85 75 114 1,473 1,228 1120 1738 Q2 204 171 114 438 449 323 81 116 92 1,280 1,367 1179 Q3 212 181 335 532 339 290 100 96 104 1,436 1,232 1208 Q4 305 166 149 987 345 250 189 103 77 2,720 1167 1027 Total 957 721 780 315 2,483 1504 1195 375 478 400 348 114 6,909 4994 4534 1738 Table 3 - Number of completed plumbing works approved by WA
To enhance the inspection process of plumbing works and to shorten the time for completing the inspection process of cases in interim and final inspection, a "Scheme on Voluntary Submission of Inspection Checklist" was launched for the licensed plumbers (LPs) to join on a voluntary basis. Under the scheme, LPs are required to carry out an inspection on completed plumbing works and complete the respective inspection checklist for interim and/or final inspection. The completed checklist has to be certified by qualified registered professionals. Audit checks will be carried out by WSD on items of the checklist inspected by the LP and certified by qualified registered professionals. In addition, WSD would conduct checks on items not inspected by the LP on a random basis. For more details, please see Circular Letter No. 1/2018.
In view of a large number of different types of application for water supply every year, WSD has been working closely with the plumbing trade industry to enhance the procedures in Application for Water Supply. The requirements of the Water Authority will be reviewed regularly and some specific enhancement measures have been developed to facilitate submission of particular types of water supply application.
Overall Measures
- To ensure applicants understand the technical and submission requirements for applications for water supply, WSD has issued “Guide to Application for Water Supply” and “Technical Requirements for Plumbing Works in Buildings”, which elaborate on Waterworks Ordinance, Waterworks Regulations and Requirements of the Water Authority
- Specifying the submission requirements for different types of application and streamlining the arrangement for document submission, to minimise re-submission due to incomplete submission
- Inviting applicants to WSD offices for minor amendments or supplement of documents, to minimise time for documents exchange
- Establishing website for searching and selecting pipes and fitting with valid “General Acceptance”, Form 1149 “List of Pipes and Fittings to be Installed” can also be generated directly for submission purpose, to allow for more efficient and accurate form filling
- Specifying the submission requirements for different types of application and streamlining the arrangement for document submission, to minimise re-submission due to incomplete submission
Application for New Buildings
- Establishing checklists for plumbing proposals, to ensure relevant regulations and requirements of the Water Authority are met
- Listing focus for plumbing proposal approval and reference designs that meet the requirements, to reduce design mistakes, hence shorten approval time
- Promulgating “Voluntary Submission of Inspection Checklist Scheme” to minimize time required for inspections of plumbing works
- Listing focus for plumbing proposal approval and reference designs that meet the requirements, to reduce design mistakes, hence shorten approval time
Application for Village Houses
- Early submission of list of pipes and fittings (WWO1149), allowing earlier commencement of plumbing works
- Delinking approvals for plumbing proposals from designation of connection point, allowing commencement of plumbing works without waiting for the connection point to government mains
- Licensed Plumbers to propose locations of supply point and connection point on government mains based on feasible private main alignment, reducing approval time for revising main alignment
- Allowing electronic submission for new village type houses and pre-approving a series of standard plumbing design drawings, to reduce approval time for revising main alignment
- Delinking approvals for plumbing proposals from designation of connection point, allowing commencement of plumbing works without waiting for the connection point to government mains
Application for Catering Business, Barber & Beauty shops, Laundries and Essential Utility Installation
- Establishing a dedicated team for handling food business related and essential utility installation applications
- Centralized processing by dedicated team to enhance efficiency
- Allowing concurrent submission of plumbing proposal and application for construction, hence earlier commencement of plumbing works
- Centralized processing by dedicated team to enhance efficiency
- Allowing self-certification by the submitting party for satisfactory completion of plumbing works to expedite the inspection process
- Promulgating the "Self-Certification Scheme for Application for Water Supply for Catering Business Trades" ("the Scheme") (refer to Section 4.3.7 of "Guide to Application for Water Supply" for details)
- The list of eligible licensed plumbers to join the Scheme ("the List") can be found here. (Date updated: 17 January 2025)
- Promulgating the "Self-Certification Scheme for Application for Water Supply for Catering Business Trades" ("the Scheme") (refer to Section 4.3.7 of "Guide to Application for Water Supply" for details)
(Note: Any person accessing the List should not use the personal data therein for any purpose other than that intended. Any improper use of the personal data therein may constitute contravention of the Personal Data (Privacy) Ordinance. Opening or accessing the List through the web link provided above is deemed to have read, understood and accepted the above conditions.)
Application for Temporary Water Supply for a Construction Supply
- Developer or Authorised Persons can apply for early connection works for temporary water supply to construction sites at the early stage of development projects, hence water supply can be effected earlier