Work-As-Executed (WAE) drawings show the water, wastewater, recycled water or Sydney Water stormwater infrastructure actually installed on a site, including its final position, levels and pipe details. Sydney Water calls these records Work-As-Constructed (WAC) drawings and recognises WAE as another name for the same documentation.
For developers and builders, WAE drawings are part of completing projects that involve Sydney Water infrastructure works. Although the final drawings are prepared towards the end of construction, the information needed to produce them should be collected while work is underway. Leaving measurements until pipes are buried can make the record harder to verify.
What WAE drawings need to show
Approved design drawings describe the proposed works. During construction, a pipe may need to move around an obstruction, or its depth may change. Those changes need to follow the relevant approval process and appear in the final construction record. Simply changing the title on a design drawing leaves any differences between the design and the finished installation unrecorded.
The details depend on the infrastructure involved. A sewer drawing may include pipe sizes and materials, connections, maintenance structures and distances from property boundaries. Relevant levels can include the invert level, which is the level at the inside bottom of the pipe. Water main drawings require details of the installed mains and fittings.
The drawings also identify the project through information such as street names, lot numbers, easements and the Sydney Water case number. Construction completion dates and the names of the designer, constructor and Water Servicing Coordinator help connect the drawings to the correct project records.
Why Sydney Water requires these records
Sydney Water uses WAC information to update its asset mapping database and store the associated engineering drawings. These records support the ongoing management of infrastructure after construction finishes. They give future project teams information about the existing network when planning maintenance, designing extensions or considering another connection.
If a pipe is shown in the wrong place, future designers may base their work on an incorrect connection location. Missing fittings can also leave an incomplete picture of the network. Accurate records provide a starting point for later investigations, alongside any site checks required for the new work.
WAE documentation also serves a separate purpose from Sydney Water building plan approval. Building plan approval assesses proposed construction near Sydney Water assets. WAE drawings document completed infrastructure and form part of the relevant completion records.
Preparing the drawings without last-minute gaps
Before construction starts, agree who will collect the site information and when measurements will be taken. The designer, constructor and surveyor need to understand what the final drawings must show. Where details will become inaccessible after backfilling, arrange to record them while the work is exposed.
Keep construction changes connected to the current design revision. If an alignment changes, the person preparing the WAE drawing needs the confirmed installed position and supporting measurements. Site photographs and marked-up plans can provide context, but they should not be used to guess missing levels or dimensions.
Before submission, compare the drawings with the available survey and construction records. Check that the installed assets are shown consistently across plans and sections, and that the project details are complete. File naming and drawing setup also need checking against Sydney Water’s requirements; correct measurements alone do not make a submission ready.
For staged projects, keep the records for each stage clearly identifiable. Check that the submitted drawings cover the works being handed over, including connections to infrastructure completed in earlier stages. Retain the supporting measurements with the relevant drawing revision so that queries can be traced back to the information used.
This work sits alongside the other documents required to complete the project. Depending on its scope, these may include inspection results, testing records and evidence that defects have been addressed. Agreeing responsibility for each item helps prevent an otherwise finished project from waiting on information nobody has arranged to supply.
Frequently asked questions
Who prepares and submits WAE drawings?
Preparation can involve the designer or drafter working from survey information and records supplied by the constructor. A Water Servicing Coordinator in Sydney coordinates the relevant documentation and submission through Sydney Water’s development process. Confirm the responsibilities in your appointment, including who collects measurements, prepares the files and handles any requested corrections.
Are WAE drawings required for minor works?
They can be. Sydney Water’s WAC requirements cover both minor and major works, and certain minor sewer works require a completed WAC plan. The drawing requirements depend on the work being carried out, so a small project should not be assumed to have no documentation obligations. Ask your coordinator to confirm the applicable requirements.
Can I submit a PDF instead of an AutoCAD drawing?
For WAC submissions through eDeveloper, Sydney Water requires AutoCAD drawing files and a PDF version for the project record. A PDF alone does not meet that requirement. Each submitted AutoCAD file must contain a single drawing sheet layout, so a drawing set may need to be separated into individual files before submission.
How long does it take to prepare WAE drawings?
The time needed depends on the extent of the works and the condition of the supporting records. A project with complete survey information will involve a different workload from one with unexplained construction changes. Ask for a programme that allows for drawing preparation, checking and corrections, and distinguishes those tasks from Sydney Water’s review.
Do WAE drawings replace a Section 73 Certificate?
No. A Sydney Water Section 73 Certificate confirms that the applicable servicing requirements have been satisfied. WAE drawings record constructed infrastructure and may form part of the evidence needed to complete those requirements. Submitting the drawings does not automatically mean the certificate can be issued; other outstanding conditions still need to be resolved.
WAE documentation for your project
LP Consulting Australia is a Sydney Water-accredited Water Servicing Coordinator and Designer, with Work-As-Executed drawings among our services. Our civil engineering consultants in Sydney also assist with civil infrastructure design and construction documentation.
Send us your project details, current drawings and available survey information. We can review the documentation required for your Sydney Water works and coordinate the next steps towards submission and project completion.
