Foreword

Publishing information

This British Standard is published by BSI and came into effect on 30 September 2015. It was prepared by BSI Panel EH/3/-/1, Panel for BS 8551, under the authority of Technical Committee EH/3, Water quality. A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

Supersession

BS 8551:2015 supersedes BS 8551:2011, which is withdrawn.

Information about this document

This is a full revision of the standard to keep it up to date.

This document is intended for application when there is a temporary loss of a piped water supply or where there is a limited or no piped water supply available that is not the responsibility of a water undertaker or licensed water supplier (e.g. burst of private supply pipe). It is also intended to be applicable to the provision of temporary water distribution systems for public events or construction sites.

Use of this document

It has been assumed in the preparation of this British Standard that the execution of its provisions will be entrusted to appropriately qualified and experienced people, for whose use it has been produced.

All personnel involved in the deployment and use of tankers, static tanks and bowsers (for drinking water purposes) are expected to hold the National Water Hygiene Card (see https://www.eusr.co.uk/eusr/the-eusr-card/the-national-water-hygiene-card) [viewed: 14 September 2015].

Test laboratory accreditation. Users of this British Standard are advised to consider the desirability of selecting test laboratories that are accredited to BS EN ISO/IEC 17025 by a national or international accreditation body.

A list of accredited laboratories is provided at www.dwi.gov.uk [viewed: 14 September 2015].

WARNING This British Standard calls for the use of substances and/or procedures that can be injurious to health if adequate precautions are not taken. It refers only to technical suitability and does not absolve the user from legal obligations relating to health and safety at any stage.

Presentational conventions

The provisions of this standard are presented in roman (i.e. upright) type. Its recommendations are expressed in sentences in which the principal auxiliary verb is “should”.

Commentary, explanation and general informative material is presented in smaller italic type, and does not constitute a normative element.

The word “should” is used to express recommendations of this standard. The word “may” is used in the text to express permissibility, e.g. as an alternative to the primary recommendation of the Clause. The word “can” is used to express possibility, e.g. a consequence of an action or an event.

Notes and commentaries are provided throughout the text of this standard. Notes give references and additional information that are important but do not form part of the recommendations. Commentaries give background information.

Contractual and legal considerations

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

In particular, attention is drawn to the following statutory regulations.

• Water Industry Act 1991 [1];
• The Water and Sewerage Services (Northern Ireland) Order 2006, as amended [2];
• The Water (Scotland) Act 1980, as amended [3];
• Council Directive 98/83/EC of 3 November 1998 on the quality of water intended for human consumption [4];
• The “Water Quality Regulations”, which set out provisions for the quality of drinking water provided by a public water supplier (water undertaker):
- • The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000, as amended, in England [5];
- • The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2010, as amended, in Wales [6];
- • The Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, as amended, in Northern Ireland [7];
- • The Public Supply Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014, in Scotland [8];
• The “Private Water Supplies Regulations”, which set out provisions for the quality of water from a private supply:
- • The Private Water Supplies Regulations 2009, as amended, in England [9];
- • The Private Water Supplies (Wales) Regulations 2010, as amended, in Wales [10];
- • The Private Water Supplies (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2009, as amended, in Northern Ireland [11];
- • The Private Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2006, in Scotland [12];
• The “Water Fittings Regulations”, which set out provisions for plumbing systems in premises to which a supply of public mains water has been provided:
- • The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations 1999, in England and Wales [13];
- • The Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009, in Northern Ireland [14];
- • The Water Supply (Water Fittings) (Scotland) Byelaws 2014, in Scotland [15];
• The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (England) Regulations 2007, as amended [16];
• The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Wales) Regulations 2007, as amended [17];
• The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Northern Ireland) Regulations 2007, as amended [18];
• The Natural Mineral Water, Spring Water and Bottled Drinking Water (Scotland) Regulations 2007, as amended [19];
• The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 [20];
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) [21];
• The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 [22];
• The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, as amended [23].

NOTE Bottled water held in storage for emergency uses has to be suitable for supply under the same Regulations [5], [6], [7] and [8] as that which is supplied though the distribution network.

BS 8551:2015

Provision and management of temporary water supplies and distribution networks (not including provisions for statutory emergencies). Code of practice

Current

Published:

30 Sep 2015