Notification – Letting us know
Did you know that plumbing work being carried out at your premises might need to be notified to us before you start?
Regulation 5 of The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 makes it the responsibility of any person who plans to install water fittings to notify us if the work meets certain criteria.
To help you comply, we’ve listed below the types of work that need notification:
Notification gives us an opportunity to help ensure that the installation gets done right. When we grant consent, we will provide appropriate guidance and put conditions in place where necessary to help you comply.
The failure to notify any of the above work is an offence under The Regulations, meaning those who are responsible could face fines or a criminal record. It’s also important to remember that if any work doesn’t comply, it will likely cost more money to put it right later.
Be WaterSafe
If you are planning any plumbing work and are still unsure whether notification is needed, we recommend that you use a suitably qualified and insured plumbing professional, such as those listed by WaterSafe.
WaterSafe plumbers have a certified knowledge of the Regulations and should be able to tell you whether any work needs to be notified. What’s more, they are also exempt from notifying some types of work and will provide you with a certificate at the end of the job stating that what they’ve done complies. Where necessary, they’ll also provide us with a copy of the certificate instead of notifying us beforehand.
You can find your local WaterSafe plumber by using the handy search bar below!
Watersafe - Local Approved Plumbers
Find your nearest, Watersafe-approved plumber, just enter your postcode or use your location.
We’ve worked with WaterSafe to provide you with help in submitting your notification. Below you can watch a brief film on navigating our forms and making sure you provide the right supporting information.
Submitting your Notification
To make it easier for you to submit a notification to us, our form can be downloaded below and completed electronically. Alternatively, it can be printed and posted to us using the details on the form.
When you submit your form, it’s best to provide as much supporting information as possible. The form includes details of the necessary supporting info, but at a minimum, this should include:
- A. A map showing the location of the premises
- B. A plan of those parts of the premises to which the proposal refers
- C. A schematic showing the pipework, fittings and appliances to be installed
- D. A schedule of the water fittings to be used
We’ve also produced a short video with WaterSafe detailing how to provide your notification which you can see below.
You can download our notification form below, which can be completed electronically or printed if necessary. The form contains everything you’ll need on what to include and how to submit it to us.
Please note, if you are installing an RPZ valve as part of any proposed works you will also need to submit a Notification of RPZ Installation form, which you can find here.
How we deal with your notification
Once we’ve received your notification, we will aim to respond within 10 working days. If we have everything that we need then we will write granting our consent.
Sometimes, we may need any further information and will request it from you. In doing this, we withhold consent until we have enough detail to be able to fully support your proposed works knowing that they comply with The Regulations.
If you haven’t heard from us after 10 working days, the works may progress but still must comply with the requirements of The Regulations.
Working with Developer Services
If you are building a new property or require a new water connection as part of any works, then you will need to apply for these directly with our Developer Services Team.
To limit the paperwork that you need to fill out, we’ve made it so that when you submit a new connections application it will also be used as your notification to our Water Regulations Team. You can apply or find out more about our Developer Services Team by clicking here.
Still need help?
We publish all our Water Regulations guidance here on our website. You can find more on our guidance documents here.
If you are still unsure of anything, our Water Regulations Technical Team are also on hand to share advice on how to comply. You can contact us by e-mailing waterregulations@dwrcymru.com or calling us on 01792 841572.
If you’d like to get independent advice, Water Regs UK provides a technical advisory service and publishes industry recognised guidance on their website. You can also call them on 01495 983010 or e-mail info@waterregsuk.co.uk.