Notification: Requirements & Guidance

Regulation / Byelaw 5

If you cannot find the information you require on our website, please contact the local water undertaker. Contact details can be found here.

England & Wales: Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (1999) (revised)

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any person who proposes to install a water fitting in connection with any of the operations listed in the Table below–

(a) shall give notice to the water undertaker that he proposes to begin work;

(b) shall not begin that work without the consent of that undertaker which shall not be withheld unreasonably; and

TABLE

1. The erection of a building or other structure, not being a pond or swimming pool.

2. The extension or alteration of a water system on any premises other than a house.

3. A material change of use of any premises.

4. The installation of–

(a) a bath having a capacity, as measured to the centre line of overflow, of more than 230 litres;

(b) a bidet with an ascending spray or flexible hose;

(c) a single shower unit (which may consist of one or more shower heads within a single unit), not being a drench shower installed for reasons of safety or health, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe which is of a type specified by the regulator;

(d) a pump or booster drawing more than 12 litres per minute, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe;

(e) a unit which incorporates reverse osmosis;

(f) a water treatment unit which produces a waste water discharge or which requires the use of water for regeneration or cleaning;

(g) a reduced pressure zone valve assembly or other mechanical device for protection against a fluid which is in fluid category 4 or 5;

(h) a garden watering system unless designed to be operated by hand; or

(i) any water system laid outside a building and either less than 750 mm or more than 1350 mm below ground level.

5. The construction of a pond or swimming pool with a capacity greater than 10,000 litres which is designed to be replenished by automatic means and is to be filled with water supplied by a water undertaker or water supply licensee.

(2) This regulation does not apply to the installation by an approved contractor of a water fitting falling within paragraph 2, 4(b) or 4(g) in the Table.

(3) The notice required by paragraph (1) shall include or be accompanied by–

(a) the name and address of the person giving the notice, and (if different) the name and address of the person on whom notice may be served under paragraph (4) below;

(b) a description of the proposed work or material change of use, and

(c) particulars of the location of the premises to which the proposal relates, and the use or intended use of those premises;

(d) except in the case of a fitting falling within paragraph 4 (a), (c), (h) or 5 in the table above –

(i) a plan of those parts of the premises to which the proposal relates, and

(ii) a diagram showing the pipework and fitting to be installed; and

(e) where the work is to be carried out by an approved contractor, the name of the contractor.

(4) The water undertaker may withhold consent required under paragraph (1), or grant it subject to conditions, by a notice given before the expiry of the period of ten working days commencing with the day on which notice under that paragraph was given.

(5) If no notice is given by the water undertaker within the period mentioned in paragraph (4), the consent required under paragraph (1) shall be deemed to have been granted unconditionally.

Guidance to Regulation 5 in England & Wales

Many water undertakers have their own notification forms and dedicated contact information which can be found on the water undertaker’s website and here. It is important to use the local water undertakers form especially when submitting electronically.

If the local water undertaker does not provide a form, for a notification to be valid it must include as a minimum:

The name and address of the person giving notice and, if different, the name and address of the person to whom the consent should be sent.
A description of the proposed work or material change of use.
The location of the premises and their use or intended use.
If using an approved contractor their name
Except for the items highlighted below a plan of those parts of the premises which relate to the proposed work and a diagram showing the pipework and fittings to be installed.

A material change of use is defined in the water fittings regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, byelaws in Scotland.

It is a change in the purpose for which a premises is used or the circumstances in which water within that premises will be used, specifically the introduction of new systems or appliances which are categorised as posing a fluid category 4 or 5 risk.

For example:

The conversation of a house into a business premises or private business to a public building.
A change of business use
The installation of a new rainwater harvesting system, new high risk catering equipment or any new installation in healthcare.

Scotland: Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws (2014)

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any person who proposes to install a water fitting in connection with any of the operations listed in the following table must—

(a) give notice to Scottish Water that that person proposes to begin work;

(b) not begin that work without the consent of Scottish Water which must not be withheld unreasonably; and

1.	The erection of a building or other structure, not being a pond or swimming pool.
2.	The extension or alteration of a water system on any premises other than a house.
3.	A material change of use of any premises.
4.	The installation of— (a) bath having a capacity, as measured to the centre line of overflow, of more than 230 litres; (b) a bidet or WC with an ascending spray or flexible hose; (c) a single shower unit (which may consist of one or more shower heads within the unit) of a type specified pursuant to paragraph 4(c) of the table in regulation 5(1) of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, not being a drench shower installed for reasons of safety or health, connected directly, or indirectly to a supply pipe (d) a pump or booster drawing more than 12 litres per minute, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe; (e) a unit which incorporates reverse osmosis; (f) a water treatment unit which produces a waste water discharge or which requires the use of water for regeneration or cleaning; (g) a backflow prevention device with a reduced pressure zone (RPZ valve)or other mechanical device for protection against a fluid which falls within fluid category 4 or fluid category 5; (h) a garden watering system unless designed to be operated by hand; (i) any water system laid outside a building and either less than 750 mm or more than 1350 mm below ground level; (j) grey water, recycled water, reclaimed water and rainwater harvesting systems; (k) water systems for fire fighting, including domestic sprinklers; (l) a flexible shower hose or other flexible outlet for use in conjunction with a WC pan for personal cleansing; (m) a shower-toilet or bidet-toilet where, either as part of the WC itself or as an addition or adaptation of it, a stream of water is provided from below the spillover level of the WC pan for personal cleansing; or (n) any system incorporating a private water supply.
5.	The construction of a pond or swimming pool with a capacity greater than 10,000 litres which is designed to be replenished by automatic means and is to be filled with water supplied by Scottish Water.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply to the installation by an approved contractor of a water fitting falling within the operations numbered 2, 4(b), 4(l) or 4(m) in the table in paragraph (1).

(3) The notice required by paragraph (1) must include or be accompanied by—

(a) the name and address of the person giving the notice, and (if different) the name and address of the person on whom notice may be served under paragraph (4);

(b) a description of the proposed work or material change of use;

(c) particulars of the location of the premises to which the proposal relates, and the use or intended use of those premises;

(d) except in the case of a fitting falling within the operations numbered 4(a), 4(c), 4(h) or 5 in the table above—

(i) a plan of those parts of the premises to which the proposal relates; and

(ii) a diagram showing the pipework and fitting to be installed; and

(e) where the work is to be carried out by an approved contractor, the name of the contractor.

(4) Scottish Water may withhold consent required under paragraph (1), or grant it subject to conditions, by a notice given before the expiry of the period of 10 working days commencing with the day on which notice under that paragraph was given.

(5) If no notice is given by Scottish Water within the period mentioned in paragraph (4), the consent required under paragraph (1) is to be deemed to have been granted unconditionally.

(6) In this byelaw—

“fluid category 4” means the category of fluid in paragraph 4 of Schedule 1; “fluid category 5” means the category of fluid in paragraph 5 of Schedule 1; and “material change of use” means a change in the purpose for which, or the circumstances in which, premises are used, such that after that change the premises are used (where previously they were not so used)—

(a) as a dwelling;

(b) as an institution;

(d) for the purposes of the storage or use of substances which if mixed with water result in a fluid which falls within fluid category 4 or fluid category 5.

Guidance to Byelaw 5 in Scotland

Scottish Water has its own notification form and dedicated contact as well as other information which can be found here.

Any questions please contact Scottish Water for advice.

Please note except for the items highlighted below a plan of those parts of the premises which relate to the proposed work and a diagram showing the pipework and fittings to be installed will be required.

A material change of use is defined in the water fittings regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, byelaws in Scotland.

For example:

The conversation of a house into a business premises or private business to a public building.
A change of business use
The installation of a new rainwater harvesting system, new high risk catering equipment or any new installation in healthcare.

Northern Ireland: The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (revised)

(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any person who proposes to install a water fitting in connection with any of the operations listed in the Table below—

(a) shall give notice to the water undertaker that he proposes to begin work;

(b) shall not begin that work without the consent of the water undertaker which shall not be withheld unreasonably; and

Table

1. The erection of a building or other structure, not being a pond or swimming pool.

2. The extension or alteration of a water system on any premises other than a house.

3. A material change of use of any premises.

4. The installation of—

(a) a bath having a capacity, as measured to the centre line of overflow, of more than 230 litres;

(b) a bidet or WC with an ascending spray or flexible hose;

(c) a single shower unit (which may consist of one or more shower heads within a single unit) which is of a type which conforms to a specification approved by the Secretary of State or the National Assembly of Wales under The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, not being a drench shower installed for reasons of safety or health, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe;

(d) a pump or booster drawing more than 12 litres per minute, connected directly or indirectly to a supply pipe; or a pump delivery pipe drawing water from a supply pipe;

(e) a unit which incorporates reverse osmosis;

(f) a water treatment unit which produces a waste water discharge or which requires the use of water for regeneration or cleaning;

(g) a type BA device or other mechanical device for protection against a fluid which is in fluid category 4;

(h) a garden watering system unless designed to be operated by hand;

(i) any water system laid outside a building and either less than 750mm or more than 1350mm below ground level;

(j) greywater, recycled water, reclaimed water and rainwater harvesting systems;

(k) water systems for fire fighting, including domestic sprinklers;

(l) a flexible shower hose or other flexible outlet for use in conjunction with a WC; or

(m) a ‘shower-toilet’ or ‘bidet- toilet’ where, either as part of the WC itself or as an addition or adaptation of it, a stream of water is provided from below the spillover level of the WC pan for personal cleansing.

5. The construction of ponds or swimming pools with a capacity, individually or together, greater than 10,000 litres which are designed to be replenished by automatic means and are to be filled with water supplied by a water undertaker.

(2) This regulation does not apply to the installation by an approved contractor of a water fitting falling within paragraph 2, 4(b), 4(l) or 4(m) in the Table.

(3) The notice required by paragraph (1) shall include or be accompanied by—

(a) the name and address of the person giving the notice, and (if different) the name and address of the person on whom notice may be served under paragraph (4);

(b) a description of the proposed work or material change of use; and

(c) particulars of the location of the premises to which the proposal relates, and the use or intended use of those premises;

(d) except in the case of a fitting falling within paragraph 4(a), (c), (h) or 5 in the table—

(i) a plan of those parts of the premises to which the proposal relates, and

(ii) a diagram showing the pipework and fitting to be installed; and

(e) where the work is to be carried out by an approved contractor, the name of the contractor.

(5) If no notice is given by the water undertaker within the period mentioned in paragraph (4), the consent required under paragraph (1) shall be deemed to have been granted unconditionally.

Guidance to Regulation 5 in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Water has its own notification form and dedicated contact as well as other information which can be found here.

Any questions please contact Northern Ireland Water for advice.

A material change of use is defined in the water fittings regulations in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, byelaws in Scotland.

For example:

The conversation of a house into a business premises or private business to a public building.
A change of business use
The installation of a new rainwater harvesting system, new high risk catering equipment or any new installation in healthcare.

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Disclaimer

Uncontrolled if downloaded. This is informative, non-statutory guidance and intended for general guidance purposes only; it is subject to change.

Compliance with this information should not be relied upon as guaranteeing no enforcement action will be taken by water undertakers. Water Regs UK accepts no liability for loss, indirect or consequential loss arising from or in connection with this guidance document.