Developers
Aquamain (UK) Ltd are WIRS Accredited. The schemes represent part of an ongoing process to introduce competition into the utility market.
Each scheme specifies the minimum criteria against which a service provider must be assessed in order to determine their technical competence and achieve accreditation under the relevant scheme. The assessment criteria for the schemes are intended to enable service providers to be recognized as technically competent, aware of design and safety principles and capable of installing new connections to high levels of quality and safety.
The schemes are intended to help those wishing to procure the services of accredited service providers.
What is the Water Industry Registration Scheme?
The Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS) has been developed to allow contractors to carry out installation and commissioning of water mains and services to be adopted by the Water Utilities (WU). Any Self Lay Organisation (SLO's) contracting to carry out contestable work (as defined by OFWAT and detailed in the National Self-Lay Code of Practice) can be accredited under this scheme. All the WU's within England and Wales recognise this scheme and allow SLO's (i.e. Aquamain (UK) Ltd) holding the appropriate scopes of WIRS accreditation to tender for and if successful, undertake design, installation and commissioning of water mains and services. Once the work has been satisfactorily completed the host WU will adopt the system for the remainder of its lifetime, subject to the SLO meeting all the adoption requirements.
What are the Benefits to the developer?
SLO's will ease the burden of Project management
Reduce the risk of costly delays
More competitive for installation of water utilities
Asset Payment
After we have installed the new water mains and the adopting water utility has vested the mains, the adopting water utility will pay the SLO an asset value. The asset value enables Aquamain to be very competitive compared with the water company. This payment is worked out over the value of income the new mains and services will provide to the water company over 12 years. More information can be found at www.ofwat.gov.uk on how the asset value should be calculated and communicated to the developer.
Service Pipe Connections
The developer also has the choice of using an SLO such as Aquamain to just carry out the service connections. Once the water company has laid, pressure tested and chlorinated the new water main the developer then has the option to use an SLO such as Aquamain to install the service connections only.
The benefits to the developer will be a dedicated installation team to install the service pipe as and when is needed drastically reducing the connection times from typically 20 days to 5 days. In a typical scenario the site agent will contact Aquamain a week before with the plot numbers he wishes to have connected and we take care of it from there on. We also take care of the infrastructure charges and liaise with the adopting water company throughout the project.
In order for Aquamain to carry out your service connections for you a standard service agreement will need to be set up between the developer, Aquamain and the adopting water utility.
Developers
As Developers you will sometimes need to ask the water company to provide clearly the options available to you under the self lay option including two quotes, one if the water company lays the main and one for self lay. We will be able to carry out this request at the application stage so you can see the savings we can offer you. Not only will we save you money but the installation on the water main will be carried out when you need it and the service connection made when you need it!
We can also arrange for the design of the water mains to be carried out which will then be submitted to the water company for approval along with the application.
Developers may find the following links useful.
OFWAT - Guide to understanding the Financial Arrangements for Self Lay
WRC - Here you can find Most Water Company Self Lay policy's and Addendums
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