​Understanding regulation 5 notification

Did you know that some plumbing work requires advanced notification to and consent from the local water supplier prior to installation? Doing so not only ensures the work being undertaken is compliant, but could even help streamline your project, removing unnecessary fittings and costs.

Advanced notification

Regulation 5 of the Water Supply (Water fittings) Regulations 1999 in England and Wales, and the associated Byelaws and Regulations in Scotland and Northern Ireland, sets out the type of work that requires advanced notification. This includes things like:

• changing the use of a premises;

• extending or altering a plumbing system in any premises other than a single dwelling (there are specific exemptions);

• the erection of a new premises;

• the installation of some specific fittings/systems.

Regulation 5 notification for new premises is usually incorporated into a water supplier's new connections process, so you usually do this without even realising. It’s the other types of plumbing work that people often overlook the need to notify and this is where problems can occur. Changing the use of a premises, from a convenience store to a vet's practice, for example, requires advanced notification and consent. The reason for this is the risk posed by the plumbing system can change depending on the use of the fittings within that premises.

A convenience store may have a toilet and wash hand basin and perhaps a small kitchen for the staff to use, but a vet's practice may have things like dish and clothes washing machine for cleaning equipment used during the treatment of animals. There may be other surgical equipment and areas used to clean up after treatment, all of which could contain harmful substances that could affect water quality and public health.

Safe supply

Notifying the water supplier of a proposed change of use can help ensure the new plumbing system, or use of the existing plumbing system, does not contaminate the water supply. Notifying the water company is a quick and easy process. Most water suppliers have their own notification form that they will ask you to complete. Usually you will be asked to provide additional information such as a schematic drawing and details of the products to be installed.

The water supplier will then assess the proposed installation to see if it complies with Water Regulations. You should consider this as a sense check and there is no charge for assessing notifications for compliance with the regulations.

On receipt of a complete notification, the water supplier should respond either granting consent, granting consent with reasonable conditions applied, or withholding consent, within 10 working days. Whether you formally hear back from the water supplier or not, the installation must still comply with all parts of the regulations.

Positive outcome

So why wouldn’t you submit a notification to the water supplier? Not only are you complying with the law by doing so, but you are getting a free check on your proposed work. It’s better to know that what you are proposing to install is going to comply with the Water Regulations before you install it, rather than facing enforcement action and potentially criminal prosecution, if an inspection of the work highlights any non-compliance.

Whilst processing a notification is not a design service, there have been occasions where over engineering in a proposed installation has been identified. Identifying such instances and receiving feedback on the proposed installation can save money by removing unnecessary fittings from the installation.

For full details of the types of work that are notifiable and the information required to support it, please refer to the relevant legislation where you are working. You should always speak to the water supplier in the area you are working to understand exactly how you should proceed and what information should be included in a notification.

Useful contacts

• For more information on how to notify Welsh Water, visit www.dwrcymru.com/en/help-advice/water-regulations.

• For contact details of the water regulations departments of other water companies visit www.waterregsuk.co.uk/contacts/water-company-contacts

• For England and Wales: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/contents/made

• For Scotland: www.scottishwater.co.uk/-/media/ScottishWater/Document-Hub/Business-and-Developers/Byelaws-and-Trade-Effluent/170718swbyelawsexplained.pdf

• For Northern Ireland: www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2009/255/contents/made

Exemptions

Regulation 5 also makes some exemptions for Approved Contractors – those who hold Registered Plumber status with the CIPHE and/or WaterSafe. This means that approved contractors can submit self-certification of completed work, rather than having to submit advanced notification. This speeds up the process at the front end for both the customer and approved contractor, not having to wait for consent to be granted.

Find out more

CIPHE members can register with WaterSafe for free. WaterSafe approved plumbers can self-notify certain types of work. Find out more at watersafe.org.uk/howtojoin