Keeping your business in order
Regulations. Although we all know they are created to ensure that a business operates smoothly, safely and efficiently they can be a challenge to keep up-to-date with.
Knowing what the latest additions are, which sections apply to you and who you need to contact to rectify any problems can often be a daunting task.
Being a regulated company ourselves, we are better placed than most to pass on our knowledge helping you to ensure your business meets the Water Supply Regulations set by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).
We want to share some of our knowledge with you to help you understand what the regulations mean to your business and how we can help you meet them.
What are Water Supply Regulations
The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations came into force in July of 1999. They are there to prevent waste, misuse, undue consumption and above all contamination of water supplies.
The regulations are national requirements for the design, materials, installation and maintenance of plumbing systems, water fittings and appliances. They define fluids (in this case water) into categories according to the level of risk to health.
We have a duty, as do all water companies, to enforce the regulations on behalf of DEFRA. The main part of the water regulations that our team concentrates on is the risk of contamination.
Since 1999 we have carried out over 30,000 inspections at businesses and premises that are considered to be in fluid category 4/5 (high risk).
The regulations apply to all premises supplied with water by the water supplier from the point where the underground service pipe leaves the street in which the water main is laid.
How do the regulations affect you?
Anyone who installs plumbing; owners and occupiers have a legal duty to make sure their systems comply. Where there is use of water within a business in the production process then there should be adequate backflow prevention methods in place to prevent backflow or back siphonage of contaminants into the water supply. This also includes the water supply within a business and not just the public mains to ensure the health and wellbeing of your business and staff is protected.
Plumbing systems should be installed to comply with the regulations, materials and fittings should be up to the appropriate standard and The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) is there to help. The WRAS
website provides lots of useful information.
How does Yorkshire Water work with businesses?
For the last year our team have been inspecting agricultural premises. Over 800 farms have been inspected and have been helped to comply with the Water Regulations.
In order to help customers with the complexities of the Water Regulations the team are extremely proactive in informing people and businesses about the Water Regulations. For the last few years we have been holding seminars to explain the Regulations; people who have attended these range from architects, design teams, plumbers, developers and anyone who has responsibility for their site water supply and fittings. All people who attend the seminars receive a copy of the Water Regulations and we are the only water company who provide these for free.
We have just finished a series of seminars in Sheffield that were targeted at Health care and hospitals. In future seminars will be held for other types of businesses that are in the high risk category and are to be inspected.
Back siphonage and backflow are a key area of the Water Regulations and we also have to make sure that our water and waste water treatment works comply.
The team pride themselves on being friendly, knowledgeable and accessible. They are happy to give advice to customers whose premises have been inspected and advise them of the easiest way to comply with the regulations.
Our Business Services team can also help you to take any necessary remedial action including installation of pipe work, pressure valves, double check valves and tanks as well as removal of redundant pipe work and deadlegs. We also carry out annual testing and certification of
Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) valves to ensure compliance. For more information call us on 08456 789 789.
