Frequently Asked Questions

digdat is an online mapping service which provides Ordnance Survey maps and maps of utility companies' underground assets. Utility company assets currently available to view on digdat include those of Anglian Water, Hartlepool Water, Thames Water and Virgin Media.

Yes, you do need to register. All users are required to register their own individual account in order to obtain plans via digdat. Click here to register.

All digdat users are able to purchase Ordnance Survey maps and maps showing Anglian Water's and Hartlepool Water's underground assets. Statutory organisations are able to apply for free access to maps showing utility companies' underground assets.

For all website queries please contact us using any of the details provided on our contact us page.

All you need to access digdat is a valid email address, a PC and an internet connection. After you have registered, a password will be sent to the email address you provided. digdat can be viewed using various browsers including Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 3.5+, Chrome 5+ or Safari 4+. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide support for the service when accessed via Apple Macintosh or Linux systems.

digdat has been designed to be intuitive, so no advanced computer skills are required. However, if you need any help or have any queries please contact us.

Anybody can apply for access to digdat to purchase Ordnance Survey maps and maps of Anglian Water's and Hartlepool Water's underground assets. To be approved for statutory access you will need to work for a local authority, a utility provider or a government body.

When you apply for Building Regulations approval, Building Control should consult Anglian Water regarding any proposals to carry out work within 3 metres of the public sewer. We do, however, strongly recommend that you contact Anglian Water before this time, so that we can discuss and agree what works are acceptable within the vicinity of the public sewer. Please be aware that planning consent does not mean you have been granted approval to build over or within 3 metres of a public sewer.

If you have selected electronic delivery, once payment has been made, your maps will immediately begin to download to your account ready for viewing. Some larger file sizes may take longer and will download to your account the following day. If you have ordered printed copies of the map, your request will be dispatched by first class post within two working days.

After confirming your request, you can make payment online by credit or debit card using our secure Barclaycard payment system.

To ensure that all maps clearly display the relevant utilities’ assets, we are unable to provide all assets on one map. However, individual plans are generated for each asset type without the need to search for the same address multiple times.

Yes, you are able to save your order when confirming your request. You can then retrieve your order at a later date by logging into your account and viewing ‘My Plots’.

You can apply to add an additional service by going to ‘My account’ and selecting ‘My statutory access’. You are able to apply to each supplier you require data for. Each utility is responsible for approving your request and you'll receive an email to notify you if access has been approved.

After proceeding to checkout, you can amend the delivery method to ‘Print Service’. The additional postal charges will be added to your total order and your order will be dispatched to you by Royal Mail first class within two working days.

By selecting ‘My Plots’ you are able to view your order history. You can also view all saved plots, plots printed by digdat, scheduled plots and plots awaiting payment.

Watermarks could appear on your map for a number of reasons as follows:

If you are trying to view an Ordnance Survey map, the watermarks will appear over the map (this is so we conform with the terms of our Ordnance Survey licence). The watermarks are transparent enough to allow you to locate and select the area you require. Once you have ordered the map, you will receive your selected area without the watermarks.

If you are trying to view maps showing a utility’s assets, the watermarks will show in the following instances:

• If you are not authorised to get free (statutory) access to asset maps, the watermarks will be visible until your order has been processed, at which point you will receive your selected area without the watermarks.
• If you have requested free access but your access has not yet been authorised by the relevant utility. However, you are still able to purchase plans via digdat until you receive confirmation your access has been authorised.
• When the relevant utility has no assets within the area selected.
• When the selected area falls outside of the statutory viewing boundary that your account has been authorised to access.

View our user guide here.

You can reset your password by clicking the "Forgotten your password?" link beside the login button.

Log in to your digdat account and click 'My Account'. You can request a new refresh email which will be sent to you immediately. The refresh email link contains a token that only lasts for two weeks, once this period expires you will need to request a new one.

Once you have registered, you will immediately be able to purchase Ordnance Survey background only maps and asset maps for both Anglian Water & Hartlepool Water. If you are applying for statutory access, your application will be dealt with by the relevant utility within two working days.

Once you have selected the area and maps you wish to order, proceed to the checkout to confirm the total cost of your order.

Once your plot has downloaded (indicated by a green tick), select ‘open file’ which will open a pdf of your plot. You can then print the pdf for your records.

If you have selected electronic delivery, once payment has been made, your maps will immediately begin to download to your account to view. Some larger file sizes may take longer and will download to your account the following day.

Once your request has been submitted, it is not possible to amend it so you will need to submit a new request.

For larger plots you can use the ‘Multiplot’ functionality to select paper sizes from A4-A0. If you do not have free access, click “Buy” and you will be provided with the option to select your paper size from A4-A0.

Anglian Water provides free access to view its underground assets via viewing apparatus in Osprey House, 1 Percy Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 6SZ (Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm, excluding bank holidays) and at your local county or district council. If you would like to be able to print maps or receive printed versions of the plans charges apply.

Utility companies have a statutory obligation to record their assets and make the data available to third parties such as local councils and other utilities that need to excavate in the highways. digdat therefore provides access to asset location maps free of charge to approved parties.

If you believe that the location of an asset is not as indicated on digdat please contact us using the form on our contact us page

If it is in relation to Virgin Media's assets please either use the form on our contact us page, or ring Virgin Media’s Plant Enquiries Team on 0870 8883116.

All foul, surface and combined sewers that were publicly owned prior to 1 October 2011 will be displayed on the wastewater asset maps provided for the water companies. Service pipes, private sewers and drains, and former private sewers and drains transferred to the water companies on or after 1 October 2011 are generally not shown.

Unlike sewers, where permission to build over or close to mains may be given, Anglian Water DO NOT permit any build over of water mains. Water mains operate at pressure, hence they have the potential to cause considerable damage for which Anglian Water could not be held liable.

There is a minimum and maximum depth at which service pipes should be laid. Minimum depth is 750 mm and the maximum depth is 1350 mm. If an installer wishes to install a service pipe either deeper or shallower than these depths they must notify Anglian Water for permission. Important note: The water service pipe must be a minimum of 350 mm away from any gas supply.

No. The existing mains water supply pipe will have to be either re-routed around the new extension or it will have to be installed in a duct so that it can be removed for maintenance or repair.

Visit the Anglian Water website for further details regarding these matters.

Depth of cover can vary due to specific site conditions and safe digging practice must therefore be observed. The guideline depth of cover for telecommunication cable or duct routes (single or multiple way) in carriageways is 450mm or 600mm and in footways is 250mm or 350mm.

This means there are no Virgin Media assets within the area you are viewing. You should zoom out to the maximum extent allowed to confirm there are no assets in the surrounding area. If assets come into view, a map will be displayed.

Virgin Media provide free access to view their asset data at the following location:

15 Eastgate Business Centre, Basildon. SS14 1AE. Tel: 01268 820 085.