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You can also find tips and advice in our short films on WaterSafe’s YouTube channel.
As well as making sure your plumbing system complies with the water regulations, a WaterSafe plumber can help you make sure you are using water efficienty in your home.
You can get further advice, and free or discounted water-saving products, via your local water company on the Get Water Fit or Save Water Save Money websites.
It’s all too easy to run a kitchen tap while peeling vegetables, or turn on the shower for a few minutes before getting in, and not think about the water we’re wasting.
Around one third of the water each person uses on a daily basis is wasted, so there is huge potential to make savings – on water and in your wallet. Add to that the cost of heating water, which makes up about 25 per cent of the average gas bill, and there are also energy savings to be made too.
We want to support households to reduce their water waste, not restrict their water use.
It’s important to fix faulty plumbing as soon as possible. Thames Water found that on average, fixing a leaking toilet could save 212 litres of water per household per day.
WaterSafe backs the use of plumbing products which use technology to automatically reduce water and energy consumption, often without you even noticing a difference. These include tap and shower aerators, which add air into the water to maintain the flow while using less water.
Along with taps, these products need to be kept clean to support good hygiene. Regularly clean household taps according to the manufacturers’ instructions. After cleaning the tap, run the water for a few moments to remove any disinfectant.
Some water-saving products may be available for free from your local water company. It is worth contacting them to find out what they might be able to provide to make your home or business more water and energy efficient.
WaterSafe is an official partner of Water Saving Week with Waterwise – the leading authority on water efficiency. The national annual campaign highlights simple changes everyone can make to save water.
This year’s Water Saving Week campaign (17–21 May 2021) focuses on reducing water use by businesses and organisations.
The campaign is encouraging everyone to have conversations about saving water and how this can also save energy and money on metered bills – playing an important role in helping the UK reduce its carbon footprint.
Around a third of all the water supplied in the UK is used outside homes, in businesses, hotels, gyms etc and non-domestic water use is responsible for 28 million kg of CO2 emissions every month.
That’s why WaterSafe, which is promoted by all the UK water companies, is supporting Waterwise’s call to ‘Talk to your approved plumber about saving water’ on Wednesday 19 May during Water Saving Week.
Plumbers approved on the national WaterSafe register are a great port of call to help businesses looking to save water and energy as they are all trained in the water regulations, which not only protect the quality of drinking water, but help avoid water waste.
Award-winning WaterSafe approved plumber Steve Bartin recommends getting started with the following top tips:
Fix leaky or dripping taps – one leaky tap alone can waste up to 5,500 litres of water a year – which all adds to your business’s water bills if you’re on a meter.
Do a leaky loo test – around 1 in 10 of toilets at work are wasting water.
Ask for a water audit with your local water company or retailer to help break down your water usage.
Consider water-saving fixtures and fittings such as taps and showers with flow restrictors or aerators, which use less water.
Know where your building’s stop tap is to turn your water off in an emergency, such as a burst pipe.
Research water- and energy-efficient bathroom products by checking the Unified Water Label.
Visit the Waterwise website for more water saving tips and resources.
Listen to conversations with WaterSafe plumber Steve Bartin and director of WaterSafe Julie Spinks as they share their advice on how businesses and organisations can save water, energy and reduce their carbon footprint.
Other Water Saving Week conversations include:
Talk to your community about saving water: Monday 17 May
Talk to your water company about saving water: Tuesday 18 May
Talk to your colleagues about saving water: Thursday 20 May
Talk to your customers about saving water: Friday 21 May
You can also learn more about how to increase your energy efficiency, including water efficiency, on the Energy Saving Trust website.
The Water Label, launched by the Bathroom Manufacturers Association, helps plumbers and householders identify water efficient products. It is a simple guide, which works like the energy ratings for appliances, and gives flow rates and volumes of water for taps, showers, baths and toilets. Look out for the Water Label on products or visit the Water Label website.
A few extra precautions will help us all keep safe and warm this winter.
Follow these top tips to help beat the winter blues:
Keep an eye on family, friends and vulnerable neighbours and offer them advice on insulation in their homes and finding a trusted plumber
Keep a bottle of water in stock in case of emergencies
If you’re out and about and spot a leaking pipe then please report it to your local water company.
WaterSafe is an official partner of the Government's Weather Ready campaign. For more advice on how to stay healthy, safe on the roads and to sign up for weather alerts this winter visit the Met Office website.
Your internal stop tap (also sometimes called a stop valve or stopcock) is the point where you can shut off the water supply to your home or business.
It looks like a spout-less tap or lever and sits between two lengths of pipe acting as a connector.
Make sure you are aware of the location of your internal stop tap and check it’s working regularly as you may need it in an emergency, such as a burst pipe.
In a home the inside stop tap is usually located under the kitchen sink, but can also be found in the following places:
Kitchen cupboard
Downstairs bathroom or toilet
Garage or utility room
Cellar
Under the stairs
You should be able to operate the valve yourself. Turning the valve clockwise will close it, reducing or stopping altogether the amount of water passing through your pipes. It may take a few minutes for the water to stop altogether. To turn your water back on, simply turn the valve anti-clockwise. Turn it on and off slowly, never force it. If you over tighten or use excessive force you may damage the stop tap.
If your internal stop tap is not turning or shutting off, you'll need to contact a plumber to help to fix this. To find a plumber near you, use our WaterSafe search.
WaterSafe plumber Colin Stainer shows you how to find and turn off your stop tap in our short video.
Cold weather can cause water to freeze. This is a problem because when water freezes in a pipe and turns to ice it expands. As the ice expands, it increases pressure on the pipes and joints, often causing them to split or joints to pull apart.
Check all pipes inside your home and any bare pipes outside your home are lagged and protected before the cold weather comes. Your local plumbing merchants and DIY stores can help you find the right insulation.
The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme has an easy-to-use tool to work out how effective insulation will be in delaying the effects of cold weather on water pipes.
WaterSafe plumber Colin Stainer shows you how to quickly and easily insulate pipes in our video.
If you're not confident in doing it yourself, a qualified plumber will be able to help you. Use our postcode search to find a WaterSafe recognised plumber near you.
You can protect your pipes and fittings from freezing by:
If the worst happens and a pipe freezes, then follow these simple steps:
Turn off the water supply coming in to your property at the stop tap
Open the affected tap to allow the water to escape as it thaws
Slowly thaw the pipe with hot water bottles or a hairdryer on a warm setting
Never use a naked flame or blowtorch to thaw the pipe.
Call a WaterSafe recognised plumber who is qualified to work with the drinking water in your home if you need help.
If a pipe bursts in your home, don’t panic, follow these simple steps:
Turn off the water supply coming in to your property at the stop tap and switch off your boiler.
Open all your taps to drain the system quickly
Soak up escaping water with towels.
Call a WaterSafe recognised plumber who is qualified to work with the drinking water in your home.
If water has leaked near your electrics switch them off at the mains.
Under the water regulations, any plumber is required to notify the local water company of certain types of work they carry out in homes and businesses.
The good news is, WaterSafe-approved contactors can self-notify some types of work - saving your time and providing reassurance that the work carried out will protect the quality of the water in your home.
Watch our video below to find out more about how this works in Wales.
Anyone who is planning most types of plumbing work must inform their local water supplier, and gain approval, before they start. The need to notify water suppliers of plumbing work extends to homeowners, landlords, tenants, developers, building managers and plumbers.
Not everyone is aware of the regulations, however, they are in place to ensure the plumbing meets the Water Fittings Regulations and Byelaws which are designed to keep drinking water supplies safe and healthy.
The regulations apply to many types of domestic and commercial plumbing – from building new houses or extending business premises to everyday work such as installing certain types of bidets or large baths.
Types of plumbing work that must be notified to water suppliers include:
In Northern Ireland and Scotland, notification is also required for:
In Scotland, there is an additional requirement for notification of any system incorporating a private water supply.
In many cases, the water supplier will simply need a description, diagram and plan of the work, the contact details of who is authorising it and the plumber’s name and address if an approved plumber is being used. More details can be found on the WaterRegsUK website.
If you use a WaterSafe approved plumber, they are able to carry out some types of work without notification. This is because they have specific training in the strict regulations required to install pipes and fittings to supply drinking water.
Getting permission is quick and free, but failure to notify your water supplier could result in extra costs to put poor plumbing right or, worse, contamination of water supplies and a court prosecution.
The Water Fittings Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws are national requirements for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of plumbing systems, water fittings and water-using appliances. Their purpose is to prevent misuse, waste, undue consumption or erroneous measurement of water and, most importantly, to prevent contamination of drinking water. They replaced the former local Water Supply Byelaws, which each water supplier administered for similar purposes for many years and are designed to protect public health and promote the efficient use of water.
The Water Fittings Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws apply to all plumbing systems, water fittings and water-using appliances supplied, or to be supplied, from the public water supply. They apply to systems in all types of premises. These regulations apply from the point where water enters the property’s underground pipe. They do not apply to premises without a public water supply connection.
Copies of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and their Schedules and Statutory Instruments (1999 No.1148 and No.1506) are available from HMSO and on the links below. These apply in England and Wales.
Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (England and Wales)
Copies of the Byelaws 2014 (Scotland) are available on the link below:
Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014
Copies of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 are available on the link below:
Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009
The Government has also published a Guidance Document relating to the Schedules, which is relevant to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This is available on the link below:
Water Regs UK publishes water regulations guidance and also provides other publications, which are free. For further information visit the Water Regs UK website.
Water suppliers do not provide a design service for installations, but they will try to answer individual queries from customers, designers, builders and installers about the interpretation of the regulations.
Being able to turn off your water supply is crucial if you have a leaking or burst water pipe, or if you are going away from home. This video shows you how to find and use your stop tap to do just that.
It's important you check your internal and external stop taps before you start any work on your property.
Your internal stop tap (also known as stop valve or stop cock) is the point where you can shut off the water supply to your home or business.
Make sure you are aware of the location of your internal stop tap, you may need it in an emergency.
WaterSafe plumber Colin Stainer shows you how to find and turn off your stop tap in our short video.
In a home the inside stop tap is usually located under the kitchen sink, but can also be in an airing cupboard or under the floorboards near the front door.
You should be able to operate the valve yourself. Turning the valve clockwise will close it, reducing the amount of water passing through. It may take a few minutes for the water to stop altogether. To turn your water back on, simply turn the valve anti-clockwise.Turn it on and off slowly, never force it. If you over tighten or use excessive force you may damage the stop tap.
If your internal stop tap is not turning or shutting off, you'll need to contact a plumber to help to fix this. To find a plumber near you, use our WaterSafe search.
External stop taps (also known as stop valves or stop cocks) are used to isolate the water supply to your home or business. Ideally it should only be used by a qualified plumber or by the water supplier.
Please note that the external stop tap belongs to your local water supplier and you may need to seek permission to operate the external stop tap even in an emergency. If you do turn off the external stop tap in an emergency you may need to seek permission from your water supplier to turn it back on. Not all water suppliers will give permission to use the external stop tap and if you do operate it and cause damage then you may be liable for repairs.
The external stop tap, is often located near the boundary of a premises under a small cover, about the size of a CD case. If you have a water meter, it will generally be located in the same pit or chamber as the meter. If it appears to be made of a plastic type material it may only require a quarter of a turn to turn off the water. When the lever is in line with the pipe it is on and when across the pipe it is off.
Some properties share a water supply pipe and external stop tap. If you're on a shared supply, remember that turning off the external stop tap will shut off the water supply to all the properties on the same supply. You'll need to let your neighbours know before you shut off their supply so that you can complete your work.
Many external stop taps are in the highway, so you may need to be aware of road traffic and ensure that you do not create a hazard. For example by leaving a stop tap cover open where it may trip up a pedestrian or damage a car.
To shut off the water supply, turn the valve clockwise to close. To turn the water back on, simply turn the valve anti-clockwise. Turn it on and off slowly, never force it. if you over tighten or use excessive force to operate the stop tap you may damage it.
If you're having trouble using the stop tap, it could be that a key is needed to operate it. A universal stop tap key should work for most situations (some water meter housings need a specialist key and you will need to contact your water suppliers if it is not in the meter box), they can be purchased at plumbing merchants. A qualified plumber should also have the tools to operate your external stop tap. To find a plumber near you, use our WaterSafe approved plumbing business search.
Still having problems?
If your plumber can't operate the external stop tap, or you cannot locate it you should contact your local water supplier.
If you're having problems finding or turning off your internal stop tap a plumber can help. Use our postcode search to find a WaterSafe recognised plumber near you.
External stop taps (also known as stop valve or stop cock) can be used to isolate the water supply to your home or business. Ideally it should only be used by a qualified plumber or by the water supplier.
Please note that the external stop tap belongs to your local water supplier and you may need to seek permission to operate the external stop tap even in an emergency. If you turn off the external stop tap in an emergency you may need to seek permission from your water supplier to turn the supply back on. Not all water suppliers will give permission to use the external stop tap and if you operate the external stop tap and damage the stop tap, you may be liable for repairs.
If your plumber has tried all options and you need emergency assistance, you should contact your local water supplier.
Make sure your plumber stays at your property to carry out the internal repairs that may be needed.
Your internal top tap (also known as stop valve or stop cock) is the point where you can shut off the water supply to your home or business. It's important that you check to make sure the tap is working properly every so often, so that in an emergency you can stop the water supply. If it's leaking or broken you'll need to contact a plumber to fix it for you. To find a plumber near you, use our WaterSafe approved plumbing business search.
External stop taps (also known as stop valve or stop cock) are used to isolate the water supply to your home or business. Ideally it should only be used by a qualified plumber or by the water supplier.
Please note that the external stop tap belongs to your local water supplier and you may need to seek permission to operate the external stop tap even in an emergency. If you turn off the external stop tap in an emergency you may need to seek permission from your water supplier to turn the supply back on. Not all water suppliers will give permission to use the external stop tap and if you operate the external stop tap and damage the stop tap, you may be liable for repairs.
The external stop tap, is often located near the boundary of a premises under a small cover, about the size of a CD case. If you have a water meter, it will generally be located in the same pit or chamber as the meter. If it appears to be made of a plastic type material it may only require a quarter of a turn to turn off the water. When the lever is in line with the pipe it is on and when across the pipe off.
Some properties share a water supply pipe and external stop tap. If you're on a shared supply, remember that turning off the external stop tap will shut off the water supply to all the properties on the same supply. You'll need to let your neighbours know before you shut off their supply so that you can complete your work.
Many external stop taps are in the highway, so you may need to be aware of road traffic and ensure that you do not create a hazard. For example by leaving a stop tap cover open where it may trip up a pedestrian or damage a car.
To shut off the water supply, turn the valve clockwise to close. To turn the water back on, simply turn the valve anti-clockwise. Turn it on and off slowly, never force it. if you over tighten or use excessive force to operate the stop tap you may damage it.
If you're having trouble using the stop tap, it could be that a key is needed to operate it. A universal stop tap key should work for most situations (some water meter housings need a specialist key and you will need to contact your water suppliers if it is not in the meter box), they can be purchased at plumbing merchants. A qualified plumber should also have the tools to operate your external stop tap. To find a plumber near you, use our WaterSafe approved plumbing business search.
Still having problems?
If your plumber can't operate the external stop tap, or you cannot locate it you should contact your local water supplier.
If you're unable to work your external stop tap you should contact your l ocal water supplier.
Be very careful if clearing out debris as there may be concealed sharp objects.
Many houses have two separate sewers:
If you find that your property has wastewater pipes discharging to a sewer intended for rainwater only, it will cause pollution. This is known as a misconnection and you will need to undertake remedial work to put it right.
The ConnectRight website provides guidance on what to do to find any misconnections and how to put them right - just use the "check your existing connections" guide.
You, as the owner of the property, are responsible for corrective work. If you rent the property then you should contact the landlord who may be the local council, housing association or a private landlord.
Please also advise your water and sewerage company to stop any further letters being sent to you.
If you own your property, you will be responsible, even if the misconnection was made by a previous owner. You could try to contact the previous owner to see if they would be willing to accept responsibility.
The survey undertaken at the time of your purchase would not have identified this problem unless you specifically asked for a full drainage survey.
This depends on the fault that has been identified by your water company's survey contractor who should have given you advice on the day of their visit.
If you have received a letter from your water company you can contact them using the telephone number provided.
The property survey sketch enclosed with the letter will give you an indication of what is required.
The ConnectRight website also provides guidance on what to do to check for and put right any misconnections - just use the "check your existing connections" guide.
You should contact your property insurers or drainage insurance company if you have a policy.
The sewer may require a CCTV inspection to confirm the fault. The costs should be shared between the owners of all properties that are connected to the sewer.
It is unlikely your water company will undertake work on private drainage.
The ConnectRight website provides guidance on how to check your connections and how to correct them - just use the "check your existing connections" guide.
There are several steps you can take to protect the quality of the water in your home.
This includes using a WaterSafe-approved plumber, who is qualified in the water regulations which keep our water safe.
You should also only use fixtures and fittings which are listed as approved products, such as by WRAS, KIWA or NSF.
Take a look at our other advice on moving home, getting winter ready and specific advice for landlords.
The quality of drinking water in the UK is consistently among the best in the world. However, once water enters your home, there are a few simple household tips you can follow to ensure that same quality remains for your drinking, cooking, and bathing.
The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) has collaborated with Water UK to help develop 'Looking after water in your home' - a booklet providing advice to homeowners with properties connected to the public water supply.
Water UK - the trade body for water companies in the UK - developed the document with WRAS to help homeowners keep drinking water safe inside the boundary of their homes. It offers advice and tips on how to protect the water by ensuring the quality of plumbing installations, ultimately keeping homeowners and their families safe.
The booklet includes information on:
You can download your copy here.
WaterSafe Approved Contractors' Scheme Operators
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