The Code of Practice on Sewerage and Sanitary Works (COPSSW), 3rd Edition, controls every pub sewer connection in Singapore. A Qualified Person (QP) lodges the permanent connection application on Form B, and the drain-line must tie into an approved public manhole or connection point, with a minimum 200mm diameter on the manhole-connected section. PUB’s published response time is typically 14 working days.

TL;DR:

• The 3rd Edition took effect September 1, 2025; sewers serving multiple lots belong in road reserves, while commercial developments require manholes, not Y connections.
• The QP must obtain DC clearance before DP clearance, then lodge Form B through the B&P Portal; PUB lists 14 working days, plus clarification time.
• Keep manholes no more than 120 meters apart, place the final inspection chamber within 2.5 meters of the boundary, and test watertightness before covering.
• PUB requires a CCTV inspection report before accepting reuse of an existing sewer connection; obtain neighboring landowner consent when the connection relies on another lot.
• When a site cannot meet a COPSSW clause, submit each clause or clause group as a separate waiver, with drawings and full technical justification.

Table of Contents

• What COPSSW 3rd Edition requires for sewer connections
• Who must do what: QP, PE, licensed plumber and contractor responsibilities
• Forms, submission workflow and typical PUB timelines
• On-site technical checklist: manholes, invert levels, pumping and water-tightness
• CCTV inspection, reuse criteria and neighbouring-lot consent
• Deviations and waivers: when to apply and how to budget
• Practical compliance checklist for project teams
• Why we engage a QP and consultant early
• How we support your PUB sewer connection
• FAQ
• Sources

What COPSSW 3rd Edition requires for sewer connections

COPSSW governs how private drain-lines meet the public system and where public sewers sit. The 3rd Edition is the current standard, and its new requirements took effect on September 1, 2025. Teams still holding drawings prepared under the 2nd Edition should recheck them against the newer text before submission.

The rules that shape most connection layouts are these:

• New sewers serving more than one lot should sit in the road reserve, and connection points must be approved by PUB.
• Non-landed major developments, including condominiums, apartments and commercial premises, connect through a manhole. Y-junctions are limited to single landed houses and some shophouses.
• The last section of drain-line entering a manhole must be at least 200mm in diameter, and uPVC is not permitted for that section.
• Manholes and connections must follow PUB standard drawings for depth and spacing.
• PUB guidance sets setback and protection requirements for existing public sewers within development sites. Where a structure sits close to a sewer, check PUB’s applicable setback and protection requirements.

For a pub or restaurant on a commercial lot, check the applicable manhole and connection requirements when planning the layout. Plan the last inspection chamber and the manhole connection together, not in sequence.

Who must do what: QP, PE, licensed plumber and contractor responsibilities

Clear ownership prevents most compliance gaps. We assign tasks by project stage:

• QP: coordinates the required submissions for permanent sewerage works and checks the design against COPSSW.
• Professional Engineer (PE): consults the project team to determine whether structural design or endorsement is needed.
• Licensed plumber: carries out and notifies specified sanitary works and temporary connections.
• Contractor: builds to the cleared drawings and holds back from physical works until clearances are in hand.

PUB requires DC clearance before DP clearance. Starting excavation before the required clearances can cause delays and enforcement risk.

Pro Tip: Write the clearance dates into the main contractor’s programme as hold points, so no trench is opened before the QP confirms PUB clearance.

Forms, submission workflow and typical PUB timelines

PUB receives submissions through the Business & Professional (B&P) Portal. The portal manual lists the forms used for sewerage works. The usual sequence for a permanent connection runs as follows:

1. Secure DC clearance, then DP clearance, through the QP.
2. Lodge Form B, the Application to Work in Public Sewerage System.
3. Attach plans, manhole details per standard drawings, and a CCTV report if an existing connection will be reused.
4. Notify PUB through Form B1 before the connection works and again before completion.
5. Use Forms E, F, H and I for temporary and specific notifications where they apply.

Allow for PUB’s 14 working day service commitment in your schedule, and add a buffer for clarifications. Straightforward works may qualify for the Simplified Submission process, which gives a fast system acknowledgment. Eligibility is narrow, though: it requires full COPSSW compliance and excludes projects with pumping systems or new sewers. Submissions are also subject to retrospective audit.

For a deeper walkthrough, see our PUB sewer connection approval process article.

On-site technical checklist: manholes, invert levels, pumping and water-tightness

Design and M&E teams should verify these items on drawings and again on site:

• Manhole spacing must not exceed 120m, as set out in PUB’s COPSSW.
• Check the applicable COPSSW and standard-drawing requirements for inspection-chamber and manhole levels.
• Where internal levels fall below the sewer, such as in basements, check the design requirements for conveying wastewater to the sewer.
• Check COPSSW for the permitted connection design where there is a level difference at a manhole.
• Check the applicable COPSSW requirements for pipe connections at manholes.
• The last inspection chamber should sit no more than 2.5m from the boundary.

Every manhole and sewer connection must pass the water-tightness test set out in Annex D of the COPSSW 3rd Edition. Schedule the test before covering the work.

CCTV inspection, reuse criteria and neighbouring-lot consent

Reusing an existing sewer connection is attractive for a fit-out or redevelopment, but PUB treats it as a proposal to be proven. PUB guidance requires a CCTV inspection and submission of the report before reuse is accepted.

• Arrange a CCTV inspection and submit its report to PUB when proposing to reuse an existing sewer.
• PUB guidance requires a CCTV inspection and submission of its report before an existing sewer is reused.
• Check the applicable submission requirements if the proposed connection involves a neighbouring lot.
• Confirm any landowner-consent requirements for the project and retain relevant records.

Our site supervision plan checklist covers how to fold these inspections into the pre-construction programme.

Deviations and waivers: when to apply and how to budget

When a site constraint prevents full compliance with a COPSSW clause, the route is a formal deviation application. PUB’s Guide to Deviation Application explains that each non-compliant clause or sub-clause group is submitted as a separate waiver item.

• Present full technical justification with drawings for each item.
• Explain the proposed alternative and how it addresses the deviation, following PUB’s deviation guidance.
• Include the supporting technical information required for the deviation application.
• Budget time and administrative effort for the process, and submit complete documentation to limit rounds of comments.

Pro Tip: Raise a likely deviation at the concept stage. A waiver raised after the layout is fixed may require design changes, so identify possible deviations early.

Practical compliance checklist for project teams

We use this list to hand the QP and PE a package that is ready to submit:

1. Check the design against the relevant COPSSW clauses and confirm whether Simplified Submission applies.
2. Book the CCTV inspection early if any connection will be reused.
3. Secure landowner consent where the connection depends on a neighbouring lot.
4. Check whether the project requires PE structural design or endorsement for sewers and manholes.
5. Assemble the site plan and the project documents required for the applicable PUB submission.

Why we engage a QP and consultant early

In our experience, the costliest sewer problems are decided long before PUB sees the application. Starting works before clearance or finding issues with a reuse line late in the project can lead to rework and delays. Many project teams treat the sewer connection as a late plumbing detail, yet it dictates basement levels, pump requirements and where a pub’s kitchen and grease-producing areas can sit.

We think the most valuable meeting is the early one: a review of the site against COPSSW before the layout hardens. It helps the team review the submission pathway, any CCTV inspection needs, and whether PE input is required. We coordinate those pieces so PUB sees one coherent package.

— Aman

How we support your PUB sewer connection

If your project needs a PUB-ready submission, we handle the pieces together:

• PUB submissions, including Form B and B1 coordination
• PE structural endorsements for sewers and manholes
• CCTV inspection coordination and report review
• Sewerage design checks against COPSSW
• Liaison with licensed plumbers

Single-point coordination means fewer back-and-forth exchanges with PUB. Request a project review and we will confirm your submission pathway and documents.

FAQ

Which code governs a PUB sewer connection in Singapore?

The Code of Practice on Sewerage and Sanitary Works governs all connections. The 3rd Edition is the current standard, with new requirements effective from September 1, 2025.

Who submits the sewer connection application?

A Qualified Person lodges permanent connection applications on Form B through the B&P Portal. Licensed plumbers handle specified notifications and temporary connections.

How long does PUB take to respond?

PUB’s service commitment lists 14 working days for applications such as Form B. Build in extra time for clarifications.

Can a sewer connect through a Y-junction instead of a manhole?

Y-junctions are limited to single landed houses and some shophouses. Condominiums, apartments and commercial developments connect through a manhole.

What if the project cannot meet a COPSSW clause?

Submit a formal deviation application under PUB’s Guide to Deviation Application. List each clause as a separate waiver item with full technical justification.

Sources

• Codes of Practice and Standard Drawings | PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency
• SEWERAGE AND SANITARY WORKS (2nd EDITION – JAN 2019)

Recommended

• PUB Sewer Connection Approval Process Explained
• How to Obtain PUB Drainage Clearance in Singapore
• PUB Drainage Requirements in Singapore: 2026 Guide
• Before You Buy: Sewerage Interpretation Plan Checks for Singapore Owners