WaterSafe and Northern Ireland Water Launch Campaign to Sign Up Qualified Plumbers to Protect Water Quality

Northern Ireland Water and WaterSafe, the national body for approved plumbers, are launching a campaign to sign up qualified plumbers in Northern Ireland to the UK's plumbing register to help keep customers’ tap water fresh and healthy.

When water leaves Northern Ireland Water’s mains and enters the pipes supplying a property, it becomes the owner’s responsibility to keep it safe and free from contamination.

However, poor plumbing in the home or workplace can easily create problems – such as strange tastes and smells, discoloured water, leaks and wasted water or in the worst cases contamination with bacteria such as legionella.

That’s why Northern Ireland Water supports the UK-wide plumber approval scheme WaterSafe. Plumbers on the register are fully trained in the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland 2009), designed to keep water safe, and not waste it, as well as being appropriately insured and having a customer redress scheme in place.

As an added bonus, plumbers on the WaterSafe register can self-notify their work to Northern Ireland Water – and issue a certificate stating that the plumbing work complies with the regulations, which protects customers from any legal comeback.

Michael McGreevy, Water Regulation Manager at Northern Ireland Water, said: “The water we supply is consistently top quality and we want to ensure it stays that way when it reaches our customers’ taps. For this reason, we always recommend to our customers they use a plumber or plumbing business approved by WaterSafe.

“To make it easier for everyone in Northern Ireland to know how to quickly find a trusted, qualified plumber near them, we’re calling on plumbers who think they meet the criteria to sign up to WaterSafe and be listed on its online register.”

Sinéad Dynan, Director of Regulated Industries at The Consumer Council, added: “Consumers need to know that the plumbing in their homes is safe and up to standard. That’s why we would encourage all consumers to look for the WaterSafe sign when choosing a plumber.”

Members of WaterSafe benefit from:

1. Free promotion and branding – a listing on the largest online directory for approved plumbers in the UK – which is promoted by Northern Ireland Water
2. Customer reassurance – that you’re qualified and trusted to work safely with water by Northern Ireland Water and the drinking water regulator
3. A direct link to Northern Ireland Water – to self-notify plumbing work and access free advice on the water regulations.

Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “Being a member of WaterSafe is a great way for competent plumbers to provide immediate reassurance to their customers that they are qualified to do the job and keep their drinking water safe.

“WaterSafe is supported by all the water companies in the UK, as well as the water industry regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate and membership comes with many benefits.

“We’d urge plumbers who are proud of their work and want to find out more about joining, or taking the final training steps to join, to get in touch today.”

To join WaterSafe, plumbers must be qualified, have a water regulations certificate, and be a member of an existing approved contractors’ scheme. In Northern Ireland this can be the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation or the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering. Once a member of one of these schemes, plumbers can join WaterSafe for free. Plumbers interested in finding out more can visit watersafe.org.uk/howtojoin or call 0333 207 9030.