Keeping drinking water safe at public events

Transcription

1 Keeping drinking water safe at public events

2 Introduction If you re organising a public event or festival you ll want to make sure your visitors have a good time and stay safe. The health and wellbeing of everyone attending is of the utmost importance so we re here to work with you when it comes to providing high quality drinking water. This guide is designed to help you and details the preparation, maintenance and monitoring measures you ll need to have in place to ensure a safe drinking water supply throughout the event. By taking the necessary steps you can ensure the event takes place incident free and without serious consequences. Open Water The opening of the water supply wholesale market in April 2017 for all non-household customers and organisations means the retailer providing the water supply for the event must be contacted first. Details of the supply retailer can be Water companies have a duty to supply wholesome water and installers, owners and users have a duty to maintain its quality and ensure that it cannot become contaminated. Therefore prior to all events, our water fittings regulations inspectors will attend and inspect the plumbing system. found on the bill. They will inform us of the event and pass on the details to us on your behalf. All customers billed directly by Wessex Water can still contact us directly on Need to know The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 is the legal document that helps to prevent wholesome water becoming contaminated. The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2010 applies to ensure all events provide a wholesome and sufficient water supply, with provisions enforced by the relevant local authority.

3 Step 1 Planning your event You ll need to contact us or your retailer well in advance to properly plan your event so any problems can be resolved beforehand. When planning the water supply system and where water comes from the public supply, all water fittings, ie, all pipes, pipe fittings, joints, water meters, all types of valves, backflow prevention devices, cisterns, hot water storage vessels and appliances which are directly connected to the supply, must comply with regulation 4 of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999 requirements for mechanical performance and suitability for water quality. One way to comply is to make sure you use WRAS approved fittings these are listed in the WRAS Water Fittings and Materials Directory available free of charge on the Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) website: You, or your retailer must tell us the: event location event duration expected visitor population. Once the information has been submitted, the type of supply required can be determined. Step 2 Water supply connection Smaller events For smaller events, eg, village fetes, the water supply may be from: bottled water a temporary standpipe connected to a washout hydrant a tanker or bowser. Via temporary standpipe A standpipe for use within the Wessex Water region must be hired from our authorised provider Eagle Plant (contact details on the reverse). The standpipe will need to be a maximum 25mm diameter. We will advise on the most suitable point of connection. Via water tanker or bowser It is important to note that if they are going to be filled from our public water supply, permission must be obtained from us before the tanker or bowser is filled.

4 You must provide information to us or the retailer concerning the size of tankers and amount of water required. Always use a professional logistics company that regularly transports water for domestic use. Always ensure tankers or bowsers are chlorinated and the water is sampled to ensure it is wholesome. Larger events For larger events lasting more than 48 hours, water may be supplied from tankers as explained above, or via an existing supply connection. Existing connection Permission must be granted from the owner of the event site. Samples will be taken prior to the event showing that the water supply is wholesome. If a new supply connection for a site is required please contact us directly. Step 3 Fittings regulations inspection Once the site has been set up, our water fittings regulations inspectors will carry out inspections at no cost to the organisers. They will check for issues likely to cause contamination. These are designated into fluid categories 1-5. Fittings deemed as posing the highest risk to human health are categorised as fluid category 5. Examples of fluid category 5 fittings are hose union taps which should not be used in public event situations. Inspectors will check the following: the incoming water source the location and sizes of pumps the connection of WCs, wash hand basins and showers drinking water points food preparation areas facilities for animals that the length of pipes running above ground is kept to a minimum standpipes do not have hosepipes attached plain ended bib taps or self closing, non-concussive taps are used if hose union taps have been used, the hose connection is removed and an outlet nut installed so that it is difficult to remove without tools.

5 Acceptable taps and methods for standpipes during events and festivals. Plain ended bib tap Pillar mounted hose tap with nut sealed Step 4 Contingency plans Contact your retailer for contingency planning. For Wessex Water customers, please contact us to discuss. Step 5 Monitoring water quality during an event A water sample will be taken by us, free of charge, at least three days before public access to the event, to ensure it meets drinking water standards. If the event lasts more than 24 hours water quality monitoring is required for the duration of the event, contact us or your retailer to discuss your needs.

6 Contact details If your bill or the supply to be used for the event is not billed by Wessex Water, but by a water supply retailer, then they must be contacted first and given the event details. Fittings inspections will also be arranged through your retailer. For direct enquiries to Wessex Water regarding: arranging an inspection water quality sampling locations of hydrants for standpipes filling up a tanker or bowser call us on Standpipe hire: Eagle Plant Call: Designed by Wessex Water design services April 2017 Printed on recycled paper We welcome calls via the Text Relay service. Calls to 0345 numbers usually cost the same as standard UK landline numbers. Please check with your telephone service provider. To protect our customers and staff telephone calls may be recorded. Wessex Water, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7WW