Water Regulations Advisory Committee

The Water Regulations Advisory Committee (WRAC) provides the technical expertise for Government to support the development and enforcement of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, which replaced the Water Byelaws in July 1999 in England and Wales.

WRAC generally holds two full meetings each year in addition to smaller working group meetings to address specific issues. In 2002-03 these subgroups have been assigned to fulfil the recommendations of WRAC's recent report on enforcement of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations.

• The Enforcement Working Group is working with the water industry to develop a good practice guide for water companies' enforcement, as well as to review the notification procedure in the Regulations. These actions correspond to recommendations 1,2,3,5 & 9.

• The Plumbing Working Group is working to develop a national minimum standard for Approved Contractor schemes for plumbers. This corresponds to recommendation 4.

• The Technical Working Group is working to develop an evolutionary mechanism for updating the Regulations (for example to permit innovative products), as well as reviewing approval routes and point of sale control for water fittings. These actions correspond to recommendations 6,7 & 8.

Terms of Reference

'To advise the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the technical requirements for plumbing installations and fittings to be included in Regulations made under section 74 of the Water Industry Act 1991, the associated Guidance Document and Regulator's Specifications. To advise on the implementation and promotion of the Regulations and to monitor and report on their operation and enforcement two years from the date they come into force'.

Following the publication of its review of enforcement (200kb) in 2002, WRAC's remit was extended to July 2003 to take forward the actions identified.

Membership

Appointments to the Committee are for three years and members receive no remuneration, although travel and subsistence costs are met. Members sit on the committee as individuals, not as representatives of their organisations. Details of members, and their specialities and affiliations, are available here...

Meetings

See: Agendas, papers and minutes from recent meetings.

Publications and Links

A review of the enforcement of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (200kb)

WRAC annual report 2000

Defra Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations Index

Defra Water Industry index

Contact details

If you would like to contact WRAC, please email wrac@defra.gsi.gov.uk or alternatively write to the Secretariat at:

WRAC Secretariat
3/H19 Ashdown House
123 Victoria Street
London
SW1E 6DE

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