Dear TYHA member,
British Marine has recently had a meeting with Water Regs UK (the parent organisation of Water Regulations Approval Scheme - WRAS) regarding backflow prevention in marinas. Attached is the latest guidance produced by WaterRegs UK regarding backflow prevention from coastal and inland waterways to prevent the contamination of drinking water supplies from ‘alternative water sources’ such as from seawater, river and canal water that have a Category 5 risk level.
Members will be aware of their legal duty to comply with the Water Supply (water fittings) Regulations 1999. However, it is down to individual water undertakers as to how they assess risks. The attached note has been produced to guide them in their enforcement role. As to what measures are deemed ‘adequate and appropriate’ will depend on what category of risk a local water undertaker identifies during a site visit. Once the category of risk has been determined, a marina must put in place arrangements and devices that meet the Regulators’ Specification - for example, whilst there are several forms of backflow protection only three of these meet Cat 5 - a type AA, AB and AD air gap arrangement (with AB perhaps most suitable for supplying water to pontoon berths). RPZs are only appropriate for meeting Cat 4 level risks.
Whilst there may be variations in what individual water undertakers require from marinas in regard to water supply fittings and mechanisms, we think it is important that TYHA members in the UK are aware of this guidance as it supersedes all previous guidance and industry best practice on this topic.