Water Industry Approved Plumbing Scheme ( Wiaps)

The Background

With effect from the 1 July 1999 the Government issued the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, and revoked the Water Supplier's Byelaws for England and Wales. Under the legislation, owners and occupiers of premises which have public water supply connections and anyone who installs or alters such plumbing systems have a legal duty to comply with the regulations and they can face prosecution for a criminal offence if they fail to do so.

What is an ‘Approved Plumber’

The Government is campaigning against "cowboy building" in a number of ways. One way is to include in the new Regulations some useful concessions for an "Approved Contractor (Plumber)", who will be competent in complying with the Regulations. The Approved Plumber has been given a very useful concession in that he/she may start work without notification or prior consent on certain types of work, provided he/she issues the customer (and for some types of work, the Water Supplier) with a certificate of compliance of the work when it is completed. This can save up to ten days of waiting for the Water Supplier's consent and reduces the paperwork of notification. "Appoved plumbers" can be authorized by either the local Water Supplier, the Water Industry Scheme (WIAPS) or by an organization recognized by the Government