Notifying Plumbing to Water Companies – Why It’s the Right Thing to Do

WaterSafe and Welsh Water recently joined forces to host  a webinar about notification. The webinar, aimed at local authorities, shared advice on who needs to notify, what’s involved and the types of plumbing work which need notifying in advance. Adam Jones, a member of the Water Regulations team at Welsh Water, shares his insight.

Notification is one of the fundamental parts of The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and is very much a proactive method in achieving compliance with them.

There are certain installations and fittings that require the installer or developer to provide prior notification to their local water company, before the work is undertaken.

This allows the water company to assess the proposed installation for compliance to these regulations and to offer help and guidance to the developer should things not be up to standard.

Here at Welsh Water we see it as an opportunity to start a dialogue, share education about the regulations and build relationships with public bodies and private developers.

We liken it to giving free advice – when plans for plumbing work are notified in advance we can let people know if they are non-compliant and the steps they can take to make them compliant.

As a water company we have a duty to DEFRA, on behalf of the Secretary of State, to enforce these regulations on premises we supply water to, so there’s a mutual benefit to notification and getting things right first time.

It allows water companies to correct any potential non-compliances before they are installed, which could save installers, developers and building managers time and money. Secondly, water is a precious and vital resource, so you can help play your part by securing the resource by notifying under the regulations.

A recent example of where notification has proved essential in protecting public health was in relation to a temporary ‘Nightingale’ hospital set up in response to the ongoing pandemic.

Welsh Water were provided with notification on the proposed installation changes at the designated sites and this allowed us to assess the proposed works and offer guidance to ensure the installations were compliant, proving vital to those most vulnerable at such an uncertain time.

*To find out more information about notification click here or, please get in touch with your local water company for guidance on providing notification under The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.