Plumbing at Temporary Events

These Regulations are a legal requirement and apply to all properties and connections supplied by Welsh Water. They are in place to keep the water supply safe and to protect public health. Welsh Water work closely with the Local Authorities across our service area to ensure these temporary events remain safe for the public to enjoy. This page provides you with information on the Regulations to help you with the notification, inspection and management of temporary events, including the following items:

• What you need to notify
• How to notify Welsh Water
• Inspections of temporary events
• Using WaterSafe Approved Contractors
• Additional resources and contact details

What temporary events do you need to notify?

You must notify Welsh Water if you intend to alter or extend the existing plumbing on site which will be used supply your temporary event. For example, if you are hiring a standpipe, connecting on to a hydrant or laying new pipework for the temporary event, you must provide us with this notification.

This notification must be submitted at least 10 working days before the event is due to start however it should be submitted well in advanced, such as during the consultation or planning period for the event.

You do not need to notify Welsh Water if the temporary event does not involve alteration or extension of the water supply or plumbing system on site. Please contact the Water Regulations department if you are unsure of this. The contact details for the team can be found at the bottom of this page.

Notifying Welsh Water of your temporary event

This notification is legally required under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. We have 10 working days from the receipt of notification to provide you with consent or to ask you for further information. To submit this notification, please head to our notifications page which contains information on the process as well as the form you need to submit to us.

This notification is separate to any correspondence you may have with the Local Authority, and it allows Welsh Water to support you in the planning and management of the temporary event. We require the following information as part of this notification:

• A completed notifications form (found here) which should include the event start date and duration as well as what the event is (e.g. food festival, music festival etc)
• A site plan or map showing the layout of the water infrastructure on site
• A list or schedule of water fittings, appliances or points of use
• Contact details of those who are installing the plumbing system on site and/or who are managing the event

We will use this information to work with the Local Authority so we can support your event. This information will also assist us with the inspection of your temporary event.

How will you know if Welsh Water grant consent to the temporary event?

If we are happy with the proposals you have submitted as part of the notification, we will provide you with written correspondence to confirm this. This will be via email unless requested otherwise. This consent will contain conditions specific to your event and will also contain some guidance literature to support you in complying to the Regulations. These conditions of consent and any subsequent guidance must be shared with all those who are responsible for the installation and management of the water system.

If we do not grant consent this will be because we need further information from you before we do. This request will either be via email or phone and we will explain what additional information we need and why.

Inspection of your temporary event

Following the notification of the event, we will arrange to inspect the plumbing system and water infrastructure on site. The inspection will be carried out by one of our Water Regulations Officers and is to check that the installation complies with the Water Regulations – which are in place to protect public health.

This inspection will need to take place once the plumbing is nearly or fully installed, and it must take place before the event is open and live. We will need to inspect all pipework and fittings that are accessible to the public – such as toilets, showers, camping areas and drinking water points - as well as any water supplies to catering stalls, vendors, storage tanks, and anywhere else the water may be in use.

We have a handy information leaflet which can be downloaded from our advice and guidance page. Please see the list of examples below to give you an idea of the kind of things (where applicable) we will need to inspect when visiting your temporary event:

• A double check valve at the point of connection to the whole site
• Insulation of above-ground pipework (where required). This will depend on event duration and at the discretion of the officer upon inspection of the installation.
• Any water supplies laid near fuel storage/generators to protected from contamination. MDPE must be affixed to fencing, above ground, insulated and encased in plastic ducting. If you cannot do this and the pipework needs to run along the ground, all pipework and fittings must be barrier pipe.
• Installation of backflow protection devices at points of use (e.g. double check valves on standpipes/taps)
• Cattle troughs, animal feeders or other agricultural equipment to ensure they have the correct backflow protection
• No pipework or fittings can be submerged or come in to contact with any foul water or sources of contamination
• Pipework must be secured throughout the site and protected from damage, vandalism or any unauthorised use
• Protection of pipework if running through stream or over/on a bridge. Pipework must be insulated, ducted and affixed either above-ground or to the side of a secure structure

What happens if issues are found on the inspection?

If we find any issues on the inspection, we will explain what you need to do to bring the system in to compliance and when this needs to be done by. The Water Regulations Officer will also explain why this is required and the potential water quality implications to the public health should the issue(s) not be rectified.

Where issues are not addressed in a timely manner or the public health is at risk, we may take enforcement action against the installers or organisers of the event. We will also liaise with the Local Authority on any enforcement action, which may include the disconnection or isolation of the water supply on site and suspension of event’s planning permission.

Using WaterSafe Approved Contractors

We recommend the use of WaterSafe Approved Contractors for the installation of the plumbing system and water infrastructure at your temporary event. WaterSafe members hold a recognised qualification on the Water Regulations and will provide you with certification upon completion of the installation. We work closely with WaterSafe members by frequently auditing their works and they will also provide us with a copy of the certification that they issue to you.

You can find your local WaterSafe member by searching on the search bar below or by clicking here. We also have a dedicated page which explains WaterSafe members in greater details which can be found here.