Introduction

Any premises which have, or will have, a mains water supply, even it is only a backup supply have to comply with: 

An important item of public health legislation, their purpose is to protect drinking water supplies. Their objective is to prevent contamination, misuse, waste, undue consumption or erroneous measurement of water. They do this by setting legal requirements for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of water fittings, including water-using appliances.


Related FAQs

What are the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/byelaws in Scotland?

<h1 id="what-are-the-water-supply-water">What are the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/byelaws in Scotland?</h1><hr><h4 id="what-are-the-water-supply-water"></h4><figure class="img-responsive" style="float: right; margin-left: 15px; width: 256px; min-width: auto; min-height: auto;"><img src="/images/topics/faqs/law.png" class="img-responsive" style="width: 100%"></figure><p>The water fittings regulations in <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/contents">England, Wales</a> and <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2009/255/contents/made">Northern Ireland</a>, <a href="https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Help-and-Resources/Document-Hub/Business-and-Developers/Byelaws-and-Trade-Effluent">byelaws in Scotland</a> are legal requirements which apply to all premises which have, or will have, a mains water supply, even it is only a backup supply.</p><p>An important item of public health legislation, their purpose is to protect drinking water supplies. Their objective is to prevent contamination, misuse, waste, undue consumption or erroneous measurement of water. They do this by setting legal requirements for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of water fittings, including water-using appliances.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 id="additional-information">Additional information</h4><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/guidance/contact-details-for-water-undertakers/">Contact Details for Water Undertakers</a></p></li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><!--PARTBREAK--><h1 id="topics">Topics</h1><!--PARTBREAK--><p><br></p>

Who has to comply?

<h1 id="who-has-to-comply">Who has to comply?</h1><hr><p>Any premises with, or which will have, a mains water supply falls under the scope of the water fittings regulations in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/contents">England, Wales</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2009/255/contents/made">Northern Ireland</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Help-and-Resources/Document-Hub/Business-and-Developers/Byelaws-and-Trade-Effluent">byelaws in Scotland</a>.</p><p>These regulations/byelaws place a legal duty on the owners or occupiers of premises and anyone undertaking plumbing work for them to ensure all the applicable requirements are complied with. Failure to do so is a criminal offence.</p><p><br></p><hr><p><br></p><h4 id="additional-information">Additional information</h4><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/guidance/contact-details-for-water-undertakers/">Contact Details for Water Undertakers</a></p></li></ul><!--PARTBREAK--><h1 id="topics">FAQs</h1><!--PARTBREAK--><p><br></p>

Where and when do the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/byelaws in Scotland apply?

<h1 id="where-and-when-do-the-water">Where and when do the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/byelaws in Scotland apply?</h1><hr><h4 id="where-and-when-do-the-water"></h4><figure class="img-responsive" style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 0px; width: 348px; min-width: auto; min-height: auto;"><img src="/images/topics/faqs/doc1_cropped.png" class="img-responsive" style="width: 100%"></figure><p>The water fittings regulations/byelaws apply to all premises with a mains water supply, even if it is only a backup supply arrangement.</p><p>The regulations/byelaws apply to all water fittings (both above and below ground) and water using appliances from the point where the mains water enters the property (usually the stop tap at the property boundary) to the point it is used by the consumer.</p><p>The current regulations/byelaws do not apply to plumbing systems which were lawfully installed</p><p>under previous water fittings byelaws. However, water undertakers can require changes to be made to such systems under other legislation.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 id="additional-information">Additional information</h4><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/guidance/contact-details-for-water-undertakers/">Contact Details for Water Undertakers</a></p></li></ul><!--PARTBREAK--><h1 id="topics">FAQs</h1><!--PARTBREAK--><p><br></p>

Why is it important to comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/byelaws in Scotland?

<h1 id="why-is-it-important-to-comply">Why is it important to comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/byelaws in Scotland?</h1><hr><h4 id="why-is-it-important-to-comply"></h4><p><img src="/images/topics/faqs/backflow.jpg" class="img-responsive" style="width: 254px; display: inline-block; float: right; margin-left: 10px;" loading="lazy">We all take it for granted when we turn the tap on there will be water and it will be safe to drink.</p><p>The water fittings regulations/byelaws exist to help ensure this is the case. Their purpose is to prevent customers plumbing systems contaminating and wasting drinking water supplies, an important public health measure to protect both those within the premises and the wider community.</p><p>The need for everyone to have access to clean, safe drinking water is why it is so important for those responsible for water fittings to ensure plumbing systems are compliant with all, not just some of the applicable parts of the regulations/byelaws.</p><p><br></p><hr><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Additional information</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/guidance/contact-details-for-water-undertakers/">Contact Details for Water Undertakers</a></p></li></ul><!--PARTBREAK--><h1 id="topics">FAQs</h1><!--PARTBREAK--><p><br></p>

How do you comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/byelaws in Scotland?

<h1 id="how-do-you-comply-with-the">How do you comply with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/byelaws in Scotland?</h1><hr><h4 id="how-do-you-comply-with-the"></h4><p>Those responsible for water fittings should ensure plumbing systems are compliant with all, not just some of the applicable parts of the regulations/byelaws.</p><ol><li><p>Water fittings themselves have to be compliant</p></li><li><p>Where, and the way in which water fittings are installed has to be compliant</p></li><li><p>How plumbing systems are used and maintained has to be compliant</p></li></ol><p><br></p><div class="tablewrapper"><table class="t1 table table-responsive table-bordered table-striped"><tbody><tr><td class="td1"><h4 class="p2" id="risk">Risk</h4></td><td class="td2"><h4 class="p2" id="examples-of-measures-which-could-be">Examples of measures which could be taken</h4></td></tr><tr><td class="td3"><p class="p3">Water fittings, including water using appliances, contaminate or waste drinking water supplies&nbsp;<br></p></td><td class="td4"><p class="p3">Ensure water fittings are of an&nbsp;appropriate quality and standard&nbsp;as well as&nbsp;suitable&nbsp;for installation</p></td></tr><tr><td class="td5"><p class="p3">Proposed changes to plumbing systems contaminate or waste drinking water supplies</p><p class="p4"><br></p></td><td class="td6"><p class="p3">Notification&nbsp;this is a simple and essential check which will highlight potential contamination or waste concerns</p><p class="p3">Consider using an&nbsp;approved contractor</p></td></tr><tr><td class="td7"><p class="p3">Existing plumbing system installations: changes to, or the way they are operated contaminates or wastes drinking water supplies</p><p class="p4"><br></p></td><td class="td8"><p class="p3">Be aware of the legal obligations imposed by the water fittings regulations/byelaws, including the need to notify&nbsp;</p><p class="p3">Ensure plumbing is installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and any relevant regulatory requirements.</p><p class="p3">Use the installation guidance published by the local water undertaker and Water Regs UK</p><p class="p3">Consider using an&nbsp;approved contractor</p><p class="p3">In the case of specific installation queries contact the local water undertaker for advice&nbsp;</p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p>&nbsp;</p><h4 id="additional-information">Additional information</h4><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/guidance/contact-details-for-water-undertakers/">Contact Details for Water Undertakers</a></p></li></ul><!--PARTBREAK--><h1 id="topics">FAQs</h1><!--PARTBREAK--><p><br></p>

Do the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/ byelaws in Scotland apply retrospectively?

<h1 id="do-the-water-supply-water-fittings">Do the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/ byelaws in Scotland apply retrospectively?</h1><hr><h4 id="do-the-water-supply-water-fittings"></h4><p>The current regulations/byelaws do not apply to plumbing systems which were lawfully installed under previous water fittings byelaws. However, water undertakers can require changes to be made to such systems under other items of legislation.</p><p><br></p><hr><p><br></p><p>Additional information</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/guidance/contact-details-for-water-undertakers/">Contact Details for Water Undertakers</a></p></li></ul><!--PARTBREAK--><h1 id="topics">FAQs</h1><!--PARTBREAK--><p><br></p>

Who enforces the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/ byelaws in Scotland?

<h1 id="who-enforces-the-water-supply-water">Who enforces the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations/ byelaws in Scotland?</h1><hr><h4 id="who-enforces-the-water-supply-water"></h4><p>Water undertakers have a legal duty to enforce the water fittings regulations in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1999/1148/contents">England, Wales</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2009/255/contents/made">Northern Ireland</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.scottishwater.co.uk/Help-and-Resources/Document-Hub/Business-and-Developers/Byelaws-and-Trade-Effluent">byelaws in Scotland</a>, in their area of supply.</p><p>To check the requirements are being complied with water undertakers will carry out inspections and take enforcement action when contraventions/offences are identified.</p><p>For further details please refer to water undertakers’ enforcement policies.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><hr><p><br></p><h4 id="additional-information">Additional information</h4><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/guidance/contact-details-for-water-undertakers/">Contact Details for Water Undertakers</a></p></li></ul><!--PARTBREAK--><h1 id="topics">FAQs</h1><!--PARTBREAK--><p><br></p>

What is a water undertaker?

<h1 id="what-is-a-water-undertaker">What is a water undertaker?</h1><hr><h4 id="what-is-a-water-undertaker"></h4><p>A water company which has the statutory duty to supply water and/or sewerage services to premises within a specific geographical area.</p><p><br></p><hr><p><br></p><p>Additional information</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.waterregsuk.co.uk/guidance/contact-details-for-water-undertakers/">Contact Details for Water Undertakers</a></p></li></ul><!--PARTBREAK--><h1 id="topics">FAQs</h1><!--PARTBREAK--><p><br></p>

Regulations & Byelaws which apply include but are not limited to:

  • Regulation 1 England & Wales

  • Regulation 1 Northern Ireland 

  • Byelaw 1 Scotland 

  • Regulation 2 England & Wales

  • Regulation 2 Northern Ireland 

  • Byelaw 2 Scotland 

  • Schedule 1

  • Schedule 2 paragraph 1

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