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The Water Supply (Water
Fittings) Regulations 1999
To safeguard the quality of
drinking water.
In April 1999, the Environment Minister, Michael
Meacher announced new regulations to help safeguard
the quality of drinking water and ensure the introduction
of efficiency measures in water use. These regulations
are called The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations
1999, and they came into force on the 1st July 1999. |
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Important
protection for public health and environment.
The Water Fittings Regulations replace water
bylaws (in governing the prevention of waste, misuse,
undue consumption, contamination and erroneous measurement
of public water supplies in domestic and commercial
plumbing installations) and represent important
protection for public health and the environment.
The Regulations are based on performance standards,
e.g. British Standards or those European Standards
being mandated under the construction Products Directive.
Copies of the Water Fittings Regulations are available
from the OPSI website at www.opsi.gov.uk/stat.htm
- Full text of Statutory Instruments 1999 - No's
1148 and 1506, or can be purchased by phoning OPSI
on 0870 600 5522. |
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Enforced
by water companies.
The Regulations are enforced by water companies,
so further advice should be sought from us or from
the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme on 01495 248454
(www.wras.co.uk).
The Scheme in partnership with the DEFRA has also
produced the 'WATER REGULATIONS GUIDE' to provide
more detailed explanation of the requirements. Copies
are available from Water Fittings Advisory Scheme,
Fern Close, Pen-Y-Fan Industrial Estate, Oakdale,
Gwent, NP11 3EH. |
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Backflow
Prevention.
The Regulations introduced a new specification
to prevent the backflow of water from 1 May 2000.
This brings the UK approach into line with the emerging
harmonised European Standard. The system consists
of five fluid categories which reflect the potential
toxicity of the downstream fluids. These categories
relate to the risk posed to public health should
fluids contaminate drinking water. The specification
then equates each fluid category to the range of
suitable backflow prevention devices. Details of
the Backflow Prevention Specification and guidance
on it are contained within the Water Regulations
Guide. |
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