Water UK appoints accreditation body for in situ lining of water mains

The accredited bodies will provide certification to lining contractors’ equipment and personnel training as required by the operational requirements and the code of practice that Water UK launched.

The industry has carried out significant activity in recent years with approximately 1700km per annum of mains rehabilitated by in situ lining at an estimated cost of circa £100m. It is important that this activity continues as a vital and economic technique to maintain assets and secure safe and clean drinking water for our customers.

Water UK has taken over the responsibility from the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI). This involves the ownership, design and management of process and procedures to ensure that in-situ lining of water mains does not affect water quality.

As the process of in-situ lining of water mains has the potential for significant water quality impacts, the materials used are managed through the setting of approval conditions by the DWI. Once approved, lining products must be applied in accordance with strict documented operational requirements and a code of practice. It is this process that is covered by the operational requirements and code of practice which are now the responsibility of Water UK.

Companies wishing to act as nominated certifying bodies need to have held DWI nomination at 31 December 2006, be registered for accreditation with UKAS and become fully accredited by 31 December 2007. New entrants need to obtain UKAS accreditation directly.

Further information concerning the changes to the approval process can be found here.

Water UK is the industry association that represents all UK water and wastewater service suppliers at national and European level.


Contact:
Water UK
1 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9BT
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)20 7344 1844
Fax: +44 (0)20 7344 1866
Web: www.water.org.uk