The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 are statutory requirements for the design, installation, composition and maintenance of water fixtures and fittings.
“Water fittings” means any item that is connected to your water supply, (such as taps, valves, cisterns and solder) and apply from the point where water enters the property’s underground service pipe.
They are in place to protect the public’s health and promote efficient, sensible use of a water supply.
The aim is to protect the public and the water supply from the following:
- Waste
- Contamination
- Misuse
- Erroneous Measurement
- Undue Consumption
Everyone must comply with the Water Regulations and water companies have an obligation to enforce them.
By law, owners and occupiers, and anyone who installs or maintains plumbing systems and water fittings, must ensure that their plumbing fittings have been designed, installed and maintained correctly to prevent drinking water being contaminated or wasted. For new buildings the same is true for architects, building developers and plumbers, who have to follow the Water Regulations on behalf of future owner or occupiers.
We need to be told in advance of certain plumbing work that you plan to undertake. We will review the information you provide and give consent for the work to begin, or advise you of any special requirements that you need to be aware of.
You can contact our Water Regulations team on 023 9249 9888 and asking for our Water Regulations team.
Regulation 4 – Requirements for water fittings etc. (https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/regulation/4/made)
4.—(1) Every water fitting shall–
(a)be of an appropriate quality and standard; and
(b)be suitable for the circumstances in which it is used.
(2) For the purposes of this regulation, a water fitting is of an appropriate quality or standard only if–
(a)it bears an appropriate CE marking in accordance with the Directive;
(b) it conforms to an appropriate harmonized standard or European technical approval;
(c) it conforms to an appropriate British Standard or some other national specification of an EEA State which provides an equivalent level of protection and performance; or
(d) it conforms to a specification approved by the regulator.
(3) Every water fitting shall comply with the requirements of Schedule 2 to these Regulations as it applies to that fitting.
(4) Where any requirement of Schedule 2 relates to a water system, every water fitting which forms part of that system shall be fitted or, as the case may be, altered or replaced so as to comply with that requirement.
(5) Every water fitting shall be installed, connected, altered, repaired or disconnected in a workmanlike manner.
(6) For the purposes of this regulation, a water fitting is installed, connected, altered, repaired or disconnected in a workmanlike manner only if the work is carried out so as to conform–
(a) to an appropriate British Standard, a European technical approval or some other national specification of an EEA State which provides an equivalent level of protection and performance;
(b) to a specification approved by the regulator; or
(c) to a method of installation approved by the water undertaker.
Water Regulation Enforcement Policy
Table 5 Notification
The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/regulation/5/made
Any person who proposes to instal a water fitting in connection with any of the operations listed in the Table below–
(a)shall give notice to the water undertaker that he proposes to begin work;
(b)shall not begin that work without the consent of that undertaker which shall not be withheld unreasonably; and
(c)shall comply with any conditions to which the undertaker’s consent is subject.
| 1. The erection of a building or other structure, not being a pond or swimming pool. |
| 2. The extension or alteration of a water system on any premises other than a house. |
| 3. A material change of use of any premises. |
| 4. The installation of–
(a)a bath having a capacity, as measured to the centre line of overflow, of more than 230 litres; (b)a bidet with an ascending spray or flexible hose; (c)a single shower unit (which may consist of one or more shower heads within a single unit), not being a drench shower installed for reasons of safety or health, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe which is of a type specified by the regulator; (d)a pump or booster drawing more than 12 litres per minute, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe; (e)a unit which incorporates reverse osmosis; (f)a water treatment unit which produces a waste water discharge or which requires the use of water for regeneration or cleaning; (g)a reduced pressure zone valve assembly or other mechanical device for protection against a fluid which is in fluid category 4 or 5; (h)a garden watering system unless designed to be operated by hand; or (i)any water system laid outside a building and either less than 750mm or more than 1350mm below ground level. |
| 5. The construction of a pond or swimming pool with a capacity greater than 10,000 litres which is designed to be replenished by automatic means and is to be filled with water supplied by a water undertaker. |
Water Regulations Inspections
When undertaking a new connection on to our network, once we receive confirmation from you the services are ready to be connected, we will complete a final inspection site visit to confirm the services meet water regulation requirements.
The flow chart below shows what we will be inspecting during this final inspection visit. (Click the image to view full size)
Approved Plumbers Scheme
WaterSafe is a free online directory of national and accredited, competent and qualified plumbers, water supply pipe installers and other water services specialists in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
If you are looking for a plumber to undertake any work please visit https://www.watersafe.org.uk/.