The Water Cooler Company is proud to announce that all our bottleless water cooler installations are now approved under the guidance and supervision of the Thames Water Approved Plumbing Scheme (TAPS). Our engineers individually hold this qualification rather than the company – as per the guidelines of the scheme.
The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, set requirements for the design, installation and maintenance of plumbing systems and water fittings. The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) allows organisations such as Thames Water to run an approval scheme, which enables plumbers or contractors to self-certificate their own work. This negates the need for a separate regulations inspection to be carried out by water companies who have a duty to enforce the regulations.
Similar to schemes such as Corgi, which covers gas, we check all members to ensure that they are qualified plumbers or underground workers and have achieved the required knowledge in water regulations, before gaining approved status.
Under Regulation 6, of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, the approved contractor is required to issue a certificate of compliance.
Thames Water supplies these to members of the scheme free of charge. The forms are carbonated so our water cooler engineers can issue to the following:
Top copy – this is issued to you the customer or developer and is proof that the installation complies with the water regulations.
Middle copy – this is issued to Thames Water, as your local water company. If you require a new connection from us, please note that unless we receive the original middle copy from the approved plumber or contractor, a regulation inspection will be required
Bottom copy – this is for the approved plumber’s own records.
The Water Cooler Company will issue this paperwork to all clients when we install bottleless water coolers after 1st April 2009 . We are audited by Thames Water every year and must produce evidence of public and employers liability insurance during this audit. We subscribe to the scheme on a voluntary basis to demonstrate the high standards to which our work is certified to. For documentation please visit the certification page of our main website.
[…] registered as part of the Water Industry Approved Plumber Scheme – WIAPS. Our membership of the Thames Water Approved Plumber Scheme is a by-product of membership in the wide WIAPS scheme – as all utility companies in the UK are […]
well done guys
would like to be in the approved plumbers scheme
Thank you very much for this information, is important to let people know the new regulations.
I was an approved plumber under the thames water approved plumbers scheme which lapsed last year.i was dealing with Winston Oliver but cannot reach him on his old email address.Could i please have an alternative contact as i wish to renew my TAPS certification through my new company.
Hi how do we get our business registered as approved plumbers by Thames Water
thank you Rob
I want to make a ceramic water cooler in my pottery class. Please could you sketch or photograph the inside filter so that I know how to make it, Please I would be very grateful!