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, you the developer, will be entitled to an asset payment. 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. This is done through a service only agreement with the adopting water utility, SLO and Developer.
The benefits to the developer will be a dedicated installation team to install the service pipe as and when is needed, providing the infrastructure charges have been paid and the regulations have been passed (which is sometimes carried out with self certification) and confirmation from the water company to proceed has been granted, the installation of the service pipe, boundary box and meter should be completed with in 5 days according to the levels of service recommended by Ofwat.
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 the asset value.
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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