WaterSafe has joined forces with Welsh Water and Northern Ireland Water in a drive to sign up qualified, competent plumbers to its approval register.

The UK plumber approval body is launching a recruitment drive in Wales and Northern Ireland to add to the 6,000 members already on its online database – a source of qualified, professional plumbers the public know they can trust.

Welsh Water and Northern Ireland Water both support and promote WaterSafe and will play a key role in the campaign by engaging with colleges and holding events and online forums for plumbers.

Julie Spinks, director of WaterSafe, said: “Being a member of WaterSafe is a great way for competent plumbers to provide immediate reassurance to their customers that they are qualified to do the job and keep their drinking water safe.

“WaterSafe is supported by all the water companies in the UK, as well as the water industry regulator, the Drinking Water Inspectorate. Membership comes with many benefits and in many cases it’s free to join.

“We’d urge plumbers who are proud of their work and want to find out more about joining, or taking the final training steps to join, to get in touch today.”

Michael McGreevy, Water Regulation Manager at Northern Ireland Water, said: “The water we supply is consistently top quality and we want to ensure it stays that way when it reaches our customers’ taps.

“For this reason, we always recommend to our customers they use a plumber or plumbing business approved by WaterSafe and that’s why we’re working with WaterSafe and its member body the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation on this vital recruitment campaign.”

James Lees, of Welsh Water, added: “To make it easier for everyone to know how to quickly find a trusted, qualified plumber near them, we’re calling on plumbers who think they meet the criteria to sign up to WaterSafe and be listed on its online register.

“We know there are many talented plumbers out there who we would welcome to join the register and we’re looking forward to hearing from them and working with them to keep our drinking water supplies safe.”

Members of WaterSafe benefit from:

1. Free promotion and branding – a listing on the largest online directory for approved plumbers in the UK – which is promoted by all UK water companies, including Welsh Water and Northern Ireland Water

2. Customer reassurance – that you’re qualified and trusted to work safely with water by your local water company and the drinking water regulator

3. A direct link to Welsh Water or Northern Ireland Water – to self-notify plumbing work and access free advice on the water regulations.

Paul Williams, a Master plumber and member of WaterSafe based in Wales, said: “Being part of WaterSafe has been great for my business. It’s a transparent way for the public to know that I am certified and hold the relevant qualifications and insurances.

“I get frequent calls from the public who have used the online search facility and found my company details.”

To join WaterSafe, plumbers must be qualified, have a water regulations certificate, and be a member of an existing approved contractors’ scheme. In Northern Ireland this can be the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) or the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE).

In Wales this could be the Water Industry Approved Plumbers Scheme, (WIAPS) Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, (CIPHE) the Association of Heating and Plumbing Contractors, (APHC) or Severn Trent Water’s Approved Plumber WaterMark scheme.

Membership of WIAPS and WaterMark is free and charges apply to join SNIPEF, CIPHE and APHC, which offer wider benefits and support.

Plumbers interesting in finding out more can visit watersafe.org.uk/howtojoin or call 0333 207 9030.

People looking for an approved plumber can search the directory at watersafe.org.uk.