Water Fittings Regulations and Byelaws

The Water Fittings Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws are national requirements for the design, installation, operation and maintenance of plumbing systems, water fittings and water-using appliances. Their purpose is to prevent misuse, waste, undue consumption or erroneous measurement of water and, most importantly, to prevent contamination of drinking water. They replaced the former local Water Supply Byelaws, which each water supplier administered for similar purposes for many years and are designed to protect public health and promote the efficient use of water.

The Water Fittings Regulations and Scottish Water Byelaws apply to all plumbing systems, water fittings and water-using appliances supplied, or to be supplied, from the public water supply. They apply to systems in all types of premises. These regulations apply from the point where water enters the property’s underground pipe. They do not apply to premises without a public water supply connection.

Copies of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and their Schedules and Statutory Instruments (1999 No.1148 and No.1506) are available from HMSO and on the links below. These apply in England and Wales.

Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (England and Wales)

Copies of the Byelaws 2014 (Scotland) are available on the link below:

Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014

Copies of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 are available on the link below:

Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

The Government has also published a Guidance Document relating to the Schedules, which is relevant to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. This is available on the link below:

Guidance document

WRAS publishes the “Water Regulations Guide”, which includes the text of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 and Scottish Byelaws, with details water industry guidance and interpretations. WRAS also provides other publications, which are free. For further information visit WRAS.

Water suppliers do not provide a design service for installations, but they will try to answer individual queries from customers, designers, builders and installers about the interpretation of the regulations.