Building compliance quick check
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UK Statutory Instrument
1999
United Kingdom
Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
6 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides across 2 topics · 2 journeys
Penalty landscape
1 of 6 obligations carry a fine up to £1,000. 5 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 3
- Statutory Undertaker 1
- Contractor 1
Plus 1 non-business duty on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Building compliance for new property owners
- 1 step
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Statutory Undertakers also bound by 169 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The Cory Decarbonisation Project Order 2025 2025 116 duties
- The Keadby 3 (Carbon Capture Equipped Gas Fired Generating Station) Order 2022 2022 112 duties
- Water Industry Act 1991 1991 52 duties
- Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 2006 44 duties
- The A47 North Tuddenham to Easton Development Consent Order 2022 2022 28 duties
Contractors also bound by 178 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- The National Health Service (Personal Medical Services Agreements) Regulations 2015 2015 137 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations 2015 2015 134 duties
- Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015 2015 114 duties
- The National Health Service (General Medical Services Contracts) (Wales) Regulations 2023 2023 93 duties
- The Health and Personal Social Services (General Medical Services Contracts) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 2004 87 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Part I
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part II
Requirements for water fittings etc.
- Ensure water fittings are high-quality and correctly installed Any Person
Contractor’s certificate
- Provide or file a certificate upon completing water fitting work Contractor
Browse 2 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Restriction on installation etc. of water fittings
Notification
Part III
Penalty for contravening regulations
Fine up to £1,000- Commence water‑fitting work without required notice or consent Any Person
Enforcement
- Water undertakers must enforce water fitting regulations Statutory Undertaker
Approval by the regulator or the water undertaker
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulator must consult and notify stakeholders before approving specifications Statutory regulator
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Modification of section 73 of the Act
Inspections, measurements and tests
Relaxation of requirements
Disputes
Revocation of byelaws
Schedules
(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph–
- Comply with water fitting regulations for WC pans, flushing devices, and urinals Any Person
Browse 36 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
BYELAWS REVOKED
Fluid category 1
Fluid category 2
Fluid category 3
Fluid category 4
Fluid category 5
In this Schedule– “backflow" means flow upstream, that is in...
(1) Every supply pipe or distributing pipe providing water to...
Water systems shall be capable of being drained down and...
(1) The water system shall be capable of withstanding an...
Every water system shall be tested, flushed and where necessary...
(1) Any water fitting conveying– (a) rain water, recycled water...
(1) Subject to the following provisions of this paragraph, every...
(1) Every pipe supplying water connected to a storage cistern...
(1) Every unvented water heater, not being an instantaneous water...
Appropriate vent pipes, temperature control devices and combined temperature pressure...
Discharges from temperature relief valves, combined temperature pressure and relief...
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2) below, no material or substance,...
(1) No vent pipe from a primary circuit shall determine...
Every expansion cistern or expansion vessel, and every cold water...
(1) Every expansion valve, temperature relief valve or combined temperature...
(1) A temperature relief valve or combined temperature and pressure...
No supply pipe or secondary circuit shall be permanently connected...
All premises supplied with water for domestic purposes shall have...
A drinking water tap shall be supplied with water from–...
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), every bath, wash basin, sink...
(1) Subject to paragraph (2), clothes washing machines, clothes washer-driers...
Every water fitting shall– (a) be immune to or protected...
Every pipe which conveys water to a drinking vessel for...
Every pond, fountain or pool shall have an impervious lining...
Every water fitting shall– (a) be watertight;
Every water fitting shall be capable of withstanding an internal...
No water fitting shall be installed, connected or used which...
(1) No water fitting shall be embedded in any wall...
No water fitting shall be installed in such a position,...
Any pipe supplying cold water for domestic purposes to any...
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Self-lay - Ofwat (opens in a new tab) from Ofwat Detailed Guidance
- Nodyn gwybodaeth ar Reoliad 6 (Cymru) - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Information note on regulation 8 (revised version) - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Information note on Regulation 6 - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Information note on Regulation 6 (Wales) - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- The risk to water safety posed by eco-building design and the absence of effective procedures for scrutiny of the water supply aspects of planning applications - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Prohibition of disconnection and securing the sufficiency of private supplies - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Identification of a regulation 8 supply during a water quality event - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Identification of a Regulation 8 supply and successful joint working - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- Discovery of an onward distribution private water supply during CoViD-19 pandemic restrictions (Regulation 8) - Drinking Water Inspectorate (opens in a new tab) from DWI Detailed Guidance
- ... and 14 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
Drinking Water Inspectorate
Regulates drinking water quality in England and Wales. Audits water companies, investigates water quality incidents, and approves products and substances used in …
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Browse legislation
Find other UK business legislation with related guidance.
Regulators
Learn more about the bodies that enforce this legislation.