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May 2011
The WRAS Information and Guidance Note 9-04-03
‘Laying Pipes in Contaminated Land’ has been withdrawn.
In 2002 the best available advice for those
laying systems in contaminated ground recommended threshold levels
that took into consideration a range of issues, including health and
safety concerns. In the absence of criteria which looked solely upon
the risk of permeation and damage to apparatus the industry decided
to adopt these values, but in recognition that this was not a wholly
satisfactory arrangement agreed that they should be withdrawn when
more appropriate ones became available.
Such advice in the form of the UK
Water Industry Research Ltd (UKWIR) report entitled “Guidance for
the Selection of Water Supply Pipes to be used in Brownfield Sites”
now exists. This new publication unlike previous studies has
separated the requirements of the Regulations from any other
concerns on the basis that these are covered by other regulatory
requirements and guidance. In focusing on contaminants which would
only affect the physical and chemical characteristics of pipe
material the report has recommended a major turnaround in the
selection of pipe. No longer are contaminants such as cadmium,
cyanide or arsenic considered a risk, now the biggest risk is
organic compounds.
Having reviewed the UKWIR report the WRAS
Technical Committee considers the advice and values it provides to
be more appropriate to those given in the WRAS IGN, and has agreed
that the WRAS publication should be withdrawn.
WRAS however intends to prepare and publish a
replacement IGN. This new publication will not only make reference
to the advice given in the UKWIR Guidance but also summarise advice
on compliance with the wider aspects of Water Fittings Regulations
and Byelaws for buried or underground pipes and fittings.
Copies of the Guidance
(Reference 10/WM/03/21; ISBN: 1 84057 5697) costing £50 are
available from UKWIR Ltd at 1 Queen Anne’s Gate, London SW1H 9BT or
from its website:
http://ukwir.forefront-library.com/reports/10-wm-03-21/93452
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