Water Byelaws
What are Water Byelaws?
The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Byelaws 2014 set out the rules for how plumbing systems should be installed, similar to how building regulations apply to construction.
These byelaws explain what is legally required when designing, installing, running and maintaining plumbing systems, water fittings and appliances that use water. They replace earlier byelaws and are designed to stop water being wasted or misused, to avoid incorrect water measurements and, most importantly, to protect our drinking water from contamination.
Where do they apply?
They cover all plumbing systems, water fittings and equipment that are, or will be, supplied with water from the public water supply.
This includes all types of buildings, even if a property uses a private water supply but has a mains water backup from a water company.
If a property only uses a private water supply (with no connection to a water company), these rules do not apply—though following them is still considered good plumbing practice.
Why needs to comply?
Everyone who uses, owns or lives in a property, as well as anyone installing plumbing systems or water fittings, must make sure these are installed and used in compliance with the byelaws.
How Byelaws Affect You
Did you know there are important rules for how plumbing is installed and used in your home or business? The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Byelaws 2014 are designed to stop waste, misuse, undue consumption, erroneous measurement and protect the quality of your water supply.
Scottish Water is legally required to enforce these Water Byelaws. This means we make sure any connection to the public water network is safe, by regulating plumbing systems, fittings, and how they are connected.
If you own or occupy a property, or if you install or maintain plumbing systems and water fittings, you must comply these Byelaws. It’s your responsibility to ensure that everything meets the required standards.
Complying with Water Byelaws helps keep everyone’s water safe and healthy. It also helps us all save water, lower energy use, and reduce our carbon footprint.
Water is essential for life, and drinking water is treated as a food product. By complying with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014, we all help maintain the highest quality drinking water. It’s in everyone’s interest to look after our water together.
Our document hub has more information on the following:
- The Water Byelaws 2014
- Your Water Byelaws Explained: Household
- Your Water Byelaws Explained: Business
Byelaws Documents and Guidance
You can find helpful information and guidance on how byelaws affect you on the link below
InformationNotification and Certification
Did you know that there are some plumbing changes in homes or businesses must be reported to Scottish Water under Byelaw 5 before work starts?
Our Byelaws FAQs has a section with information explaining when notification is needed and if certification applies when using an approved WaterSafe plumber.
Byelaw 5 Form
Access our Water Byelaws Byelaw 5 Form on the Documents and Guidance page
Byelaw 5 FormApproved Plumbers and Contractors
Scottish Water recommends that customers use a SNIPEF approved plumbing contractor based in Scotland, who are listed within the online WaterSafe Register.
WaterSafe Register helps you find competent and qualified plumbers, water supply pipe installers, and other water services specialists across Scotland, as well as in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
WaterSafe brings together thousands of qualified professionals from the UK’s four approved contractors’ schemes, ensuring you have access to reliable and trustworthy services. These schemes are:
- Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC)
- Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE)
- Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF)
- The Water Industry Approved Plumbers’ Scheme (WIAPS)
The benefits of using SNIPEF approved contractors in Scotland, or members of other UK based schemes include:
- Work is certified as complying with Water Byelaws
- Contractors are suitably trained and qualified
- Members are audited on a regular basis
- They hold public liability insurance
- They must submit Financial Integrity Statements every year
To find a licensed plumber in your area, visit www.watersafe.org.uk
