World Plumbing Day & WaterSafe

We’ve been chatting to Lee Brooks, who works in our Water Regulations team about the benefits of WaterSafe for Welsh Water and our customers.

What does it mean to be a WaterSafe plumber?

WaterSafe is a free online directory and national accreditation body set up to help our customers find approved plumbers. They only list suitably qualified and insured professionals who have a certified knowledge of their legal responsibilities when carrying out work for our customers.

Because they know the requirements of the Water Fittings Regulations, they understand the strict requirements for the installation, maintenance and repair of plumbing systems. What’s more, because they are recognised by us, we share with them our guidance and best practice too.

Why do Welsh Water Promote WaterSafe?

Often when I’m helping customers with plumbing issues, I get asked if we can recommend someone to carry out private repair or installation work. When we can’t do the work ourselves, we always point them to WaterSafe.

We can do this with confidence in knowing that our customer will be able to find someone with all the necessary qualifications and insurances. Whether it’s a minor leak, an emergency or that long awaited new bathroom, we suggest WaterSafe as the first stop for your plumbing needs.

Using a WaterSafe plumber offers additional protection for our customers as well, as the Approved Contractor’s scheme they are signed up to must have processes to deal with complaints or concerns from consumers.

By promoting WaterSafe, we are also supporting local businesses, most of whom are also our customers. It’s great for us to know that our customers can use local approved plumbers when carrying out any work.

Why should I be using a WaterSafe plumber?

Welsh Water puts huge amounts of effort into ensuring that our drinking water supply is safe and clean when it makes it to our customers. When it gets to their homes and businesses, the best way to enjoy our water safely is by making sure internal plumbing is up to scratch.

As a Water Regulations team, we conduct inspections of customer premises in response to water quality issues, private leaks and as part of our proactive enforcement efforts. Surprisingly, the most common plumbing problems we find in our customers’ homes and businesses come down to appliances and bathroom fittings that don’t comply or haven’t been installed correctly.

Botched plumbing jobs can cause damage to property, but also more importantly can pose a risk to our customers health. We don’t expect everyone to be a plumbing expert, but by using a suitably qualified professional you are doing all you can to safeguard the water supply in your premises.

How can I find a WaterSafe plumber?

We’ve made it really easy for you to find a local approved plumber. If you head to our website, you’ll find the WaterSafe search tool on our homepage. It’s also placed conveniently at a few other locations around the site.

Failing that, you can go directly to WaterSafe, either by heading to their website or calling them on 0333 207 9030. You can also e-mail them with any queries at info@watersafe.org.uk.

My usual plumber isn’t listed by WaterSafe. Why not?

Being listed by WaterSafe is voluntary. However, there aren’t any real challenges involved in joining, so it might be worth asking them why they haven’t registered.

For eligible plumbers living in Wales & the areas in England which we supply, it’s free to join WaterSafe via WIAPS, the Water Industry Approved Plumbers Scheme. You can also join through your trade organisation if you are an existing member of the CIPHE or APHC.

We are also here to support plumbers in signing up to WaterSafe and will provide whatever guidance we can to help get new members listed. What’s more, if a plumber is thinking of joining but doesn’t have a recognised Water Regulations qualification, we can also offer them that training - free of charge!

If you know a plumber who might be interested, they can register interest in our course by clicking here.