WaterMark terms and conditions

These terms and conditions apply to members of the WaterMark scheme.

WaterMark is a Severn Trent Water approved plumber scheme which is also available for plumbers to join from the Hafren Dyfrdwy area.

Background

The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations) set requirements for the design, installation and maintenance of water fittings and plumbing systems.

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) allows organisations such as Hafren Dyfrdwy to run an approval scheme that enables approved members to self-certificate their own work.  This removes the need for a separate inspection to be carried out by the water undertaker to ensure compliance of the Regulations is met.

All work(s) undertaken must comply fully with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999.  It is a criminal offence to be in breach of the Regulations.

The water undertaker has a legal duty to enforce the Regulations within its area of supply.

Members shall, at all times, comply fully with the requirements of the scheme for their duration of membership:

a) All members must comply with these Terms and Conditions, the Code of Conduct and any other rules of membership prescribed by the scheme.

b) All members must comply with the schemes branding guidelines.

c) All members must comply with any auditing procedures and any action required by the scheme following any audit.

d) All members are responsible for maintaining recognised qualification(s) which are required by the scheme and/or the Regulations.

e) All membership and application fees must be paid in full.

f) All members must use skill, care and attention in the provision of its services.

a) Members are automatically enrolled onto WaterSafe, the national approved plumbers scheme. Their details are added to the directory of qualified plumbers and is maintained by both WaterMark and WaterSafe. Members are free to opt out of WaterSafe at any time.

b) Where membership cards are issued it is a requirement that these are used to verify membership.

c) Members are invited to use the WaterMark and WaterSafe logos on their vehicles and stationery only whilst their membership is valid.

In order for membership status to be granted the following conditions must be met in full;

a) Completion of an application form.

b) The applicant must hold a formal plumbing qualification which is recognised by the scheme. Please refer to the WaterSafe website for a full list of qualifications. This doesn’t apply to Underground, Sector and RPZ applicants.

c) The applicant must hold a recognised Water Fittings Regulations qualification demonstrating their knowledge of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999. This doesn’t apply to RPZ applicants.

d) The applicant must successfully pass a site audit undertaken by a Severn Trent or Hafren Dyfrdwy Water Fittings Technician. This doesn’t apply to Sector and RPZ applicants.

e) The applicant must have £2 million of public liability insurance and, where appropriate, £5 million of employer’s liability cover. Copies of these polices must be provided. It is the members responsibility to ensure that this cover is maintained whilst participating in the scheme. 

Additional to the above a RPZ tester must also adhere to the following:

a) The applicant must hold a valid Water Industry recognised BA device/RPZ valve tester’s qualification.

b) Upon application, the applicant must provide a copy of the current calibration certificate for their test equipment. RPZ test equipment shall be calibrated by a pressure calibration service accredited by UKAS. Equipment should be calibrated at least annually or, where specified by the manufacturer more frequently. An updated calibration certificate must be provided each year upon renewal

c) All works must fully comply with the current Approved Installation Method (AIM-08-01 Issue 2 2020).

d) Following the testing of an RPZ valve, a copy of the test certificate shall be submitted to the Water Fittings Department within 10 working days, certificates maybe rejected if received after this period.

e) The applicant must submit a minimum of 4 test certificates per year to ensure they remain competent.

a) There is an initial one-off non-refundable application fee of £100.00. In addition to this there is also an annual membership fee of £50.00, both fees are inclusive of VAT.

a) Where a water fitting is installed, altered, connected or disconnected by an approved member, the member shall upon completion of the work furnish a self-certificate stating whether the water fitting complies with the requirements of these Regulations to the person who commissioned the work (Regulation 6).

b) In the case of a fitting for which notice is required, the member shall send a copy of the self-certificate to the Water Fittings Department (Regulation 5).

c) Approved members are permitted to certificate work(s) for up to five contractors (persons) working under their ‘Responsibility’. 

d) An approved member is responsible for the quality of work and compliance with the Regulations for all work completed by a sub-contractor employed by them.

a) Audits will only be undertaken within the Severn Trent and Hafren Dyfrdwy’s area of supply.

b) Severn Trent and Hafren Dyfrdwy may carry out audits on existing members to ensure that any work undertaken complies with the Regulations. 

c) For new applicants, membership will only be granted following a successful audit of completed work. This doesn’t apply to Sector and RPZ applicants

d) The subsequent steps will apply when arranging all audits:

- Severn Trent or Hafren Dyfrdwy will contact the member / applicant on three separate occasions in order to arrange an audit date.

- If an audit date cannot be arranged after the third attempt, their membership status will be changed to ‘lapsed’.

- During a ‘lapsed’ membership period, if the member contacts WaterMark and an audit date can be arranged (and successfully passed), their membership status will be reinstated.

- If there is no contact from the member they shall be removed from the scheme.

- In the event a member is removed from the scheme, the member must then re-apply for membership via the new application process. 

e) Any contravention of the Regulation’s found as part of the audit will be discussed with the member / applicant.

f) Existing members who fail to rectify (at their own expense) any contravention(s) found during the audit, will be removed from the scheme and may possibly be liable to legal action from the customer(s) and/or Severn Trent / Hafren Dyfrdwy.

g) New applicants who fail an audit and who fail to rectify (at their own expense) any contravention(s) found during the audit, will be refused membership of the scheme and may possibly be liable to legal action from the customer(s) and/or Severn Trent / Hafren Dyfrdwy.

h) Members / applicants who fail an audit, may have their membership temporarily suspended whilst they attend further training. Upon completion of this training a further audit shall be required.

i) Details of audits may be shared with third parties such as other approved contractor schemes and WaterSafe. 

a) WaterMark will use all information in accordance with Hafren Dyfrdwy's privacy policy.

b) Members acknowledge and accept that WaterMark and WaterSafe shall be entitled to use the relevant information to enable administration of the scheme(s) effectively and to monitor and enforce the scheme rules. 

c) Members acknowledge and accept that WaterMark may pass on personal information to other approved contractor schemes and third parties such as WaterRegsUK when deemed necessary, for example WaterSafe subscription.

a) The scheme has a Code of Conduct which sets out the standards of behaviour expected by members. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in termination of scheme membership. 

a) Any dispute outside of the remit of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 is a matter between the member and the customer.

b) Any disputes or appeals shall be submitted in writing to the Scheme and will be assessed on a case by case basis.

c) The Water Regulations Manager`s decision will be final and non-negotiable with all parties being bound by the decision(s) in all such disputes or appeals.

a) If a member is found to be carrying out work which is not in accordance with the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations, or fails to comply with any of the foregoing requirements, Severn Trent / Hafren Dyfrdwy reserve the right to terminate membership and remove the company from the approved list of plumbers. 

b) Legal action may be taken by Severn Trent or Hafren Dyfrdwy if an offence has been committed under the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations or the Water Industry Act, and is deemed in the interest of the general public.

c) Upon termination of membership, members must return all merchandise relating to the scheme, including but not limited to all membership cards, membership certificates and any unused work completion certificates with immediate effect. 

d) Upon termination of membership, members must immediately cease to use any scheme logos on advertising material, company vehicles and company stationary. 

e) Termination of membership shall result in the removal of a member’s details from the ‘find a plumber’ online search facility published on the Severn Trent, Hafren Dyfrdwy and WaterSafe websites. 

f) The scheme shall notify the member in writing the reasons for termination of membership.

g) Details of membership termination will be shared with WaterSafe and the other approved plumber schemes.

a) Severn Trent and Hafren Dyfrdwy cannot guarantee the quality of workmanship undertaken by a member.

b) Severn Trent and Hafren Dyfrdwy reserves the right to alter and/or amend the Terms and Conditions and the Code of Conduct without prior notice.

c) Membership renewal is on an annual basis, currently 1st April – 31st March.

d) A member’s scope of work is limited to their membership status.

e) The scheme reserves the right to terminate membership for breach of these Terms and Conditions or Code of Conduct.

f) Severn Trent reserve the right to terminate the scheme at any time for whatever reason without prior notification.

g) As a WaterMark member you will be given the option to advertise your services through an on-line ‘find a plumber’ search facility. Severn Trent and Hafren Dyfrdwy cannot guarantee that this will generate any additional work. 

h) From time to time Severn Trent / WaterMark may announce promotional offers available to members as offered by third parties, subject to any third-party terms and conditions applying to such offer. Severn Trent / WaterMark will not be acting as agent or responsible for any product or service acquired through such offers.