INDUSTRY UPDATE

June 7, 2017

Watercare reviews compliance and connection processes
Changes are in the pipeline for anyone working on or connecting to Auckland’s public water and wastewater infrastructure.
Watercare has reviewed its processes relating to new developments and connections to our network to enable qualified contractors and consultants to self-certify their work.

Compliance statements will be introduced to provide a consistent system for ensuring all work carried out on our network meets Watercare’s engineering standards.

Use of the statements will become mandatory from July 1. Watercare staff will provide support and advice as needed to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

Watercare strategy and planning general manager Martin Smith says Watercare has a responsibility to ensure all public water and wastewater assets are designed and built to deliver the optimal asset life.

“As the provider of Auckland’s water and wastewater services, we have a duty of care to our customers to ensure all work carried out on our network meets our stringent standards and is carried out in a safe manner.
“The use of compliance statements will provide a consistent system for evidence-based quality control for all work carried out on our network.

“This review is about protecting our customers and enabling competent contractors and consultants to self-certify their work, which will largely remove the need for inspections from Watercare staff.

“Accepted compliance statements will also give Watercare a legal avenue to claim costs from the responsible party when negligence is discovered, so that ultimately it’s not our customers who will bear the burden of this cost.”
Watercare has worked closely with industry bodies in developing the compliance statements.

The framework is similar to that of the IPENZ producer statements, which those in the industry are already familiar with.
There are four types of compliance statements; CS1 Design, CS2 Design Review, CS3 Construction Works and CS4 Construction Monitoring.

These are available on our website.

Changes to connections
Changes to the connections process will also take effect from July 1 and be fully implemented by September 30. Any connections to the public water network commissioned from July 1 will need to be carried out by one of our network maintenance contractors throughout Auckland. These include Downer, City Care and our internal maintenance staff.
Simple household wastewater connections, and pipe connections to the public wastewater infrastructure, can be carried out by a drainlayer certified by the New Zealand Plumbers, Gasfitters and Drainlayers Board. This will need to be approved by Watercare.

Any work that involves connecting to a pressure sewer, a vacuum system or a rising main will need to be done by our network maintenance contractors.

Anyone accessing our wastewater network for any reason, such as lowering a camera into a pipe or checking the depth of a manhole, will need to gain approval from Watercare before doing so.

If you have any queries, please email info@water.co.nz with the subject line Compliance Statements or Connections.


Linkback: https://www.plumbers.nz/drainage/83/watercare-industry-update/2101/