Know your rights – The Legal bit ….

In working with the UK water industry, any work on a domestic plumbing system is a notifiable event to your local water company.

In more detail, that to comply with the Water Industry Legislation, it is the responsibility of the property owner / installer / occupant to notify the Water Company in writing of works under Regulation 5 of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014, prior to the commencement of works.

There are a number of layouts approved by Water UK and the Home Builder’s Federation which can be used to supplement a submission to your water company, details of which can be found on line or with your local water company.

For practical purposes, we recommend that any such notification of intended works is sent by RECORDED DELIVERY and a receipt retained for your record.

If the water company has not responded to any such request within ten working days, consent is deemed to have been granted; hence it is very useful to have a proven line of communication with the water company should there be any conflict at some time in the future.

If a request is rejected without appropriate reason, the consumer may have recourse to a formal complaint against the water company (to DEFRA/Welsh Assembly/DAERA) under Section 13 of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 and the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014.

It is also the responsibility of the home owner / installer / occupant to install apparatus to specification and in accordance with all the detailed design and all appropriate legislation.