Severn Trent Water and WaterSafe have once again pledged their full support for today’s World Plumbing Day – as a time to reflect on how we can work together as an industry to raise plumbing standards in the UK.
Lee Rawlings, water fittings engineer for Severn Trent, explains: “Working with WaterSafe, we’re trying to re-focus standards within the plumbing sector by providing recognition for competent plumbers, as well as protecting our customers who need help with plumbing work.
“Today, on World Plumbing Day, we’re urging our customers to make sure that the work they have done is to a good standard. There is a huge issue of homeowners failing to check the credentials of a plumber before getting them in to do work, and this is leaving them vulnerable to a growing number of rogue plumbers.”
This is demonstrated in a recent WaterSafe study which found that a startling 70 per cent of UK householders still don’t check the credentials of a plumber before letting them commence work. Worse still, the study showed, for many, choosing a plumber is all about first impressions – with more than half (54%) deeming personal appearance more important than their qualifications.
Not surprisingly then, WaterSafe estimates bodged plumbing jobs have cost the nation a whopping £2.6 billion in recent years, predominantly down to unqualified, unethical traders.
Lee added: “We’re working with WaterSafe to allow our customers to make an informed choice when choosing a plumber – all at the click of a button. There’s a list of WaterSafe approved plumbers on our website at stwater.co.uk or you can just go direct to watersafe.org.uk.”
Kevin Wellman, director of WaterSafe and executive board member of the World Plumbing Council comments: “As our research shows, there’s still a major issue in consumers continually failing to check the credentials of plumbers, thus leaving them wide open to a growing number of unqualified rogue plumbers. As such, we’d ask all plumbers to continue to push the WaterSafe message among their customers as the easiest way of being assured they are getting a professional, qualified plumber each and every time. That way, we can help to raise the standards of water safety in the UK and continue to be a prime example of good practice on a global level.”
Now in its sixth year, World Plumbing Day, held today, 11 March 2015, was founded by the World Plumbing Council to promote the important role plumbing plays in the health and safety of modern society.
Spotted a leak? Call 0800 783 4444
Holder of the Carbon Trust Standard