Conditions for use of hose taps in marinas 

On behalf of all Water Suppliers, the WRAS Technical Support Groups and the WRAS Technical Committee, working with the British Marine Federation, have developed conditions for the use of hose taps in marinas for filling small pleasure craft with water for domestic purposes and for localised washing down purposes.  The Conditions for Use were accepted by the WRAS Technical Committee in September 2008, with the support of the Water Supply and Regulation Division of Defra which is responsible for the Water Fittings Regulations.

If certain safeguards are met by the marina in its use of quayside taps and hoses, at the Water Supplier’ discretion it was agreed that it was acceptable to use a double check valve to provide backflow protection.  This decision extended to quayside taps in coastal and estuarine marinas the arrangements which have long been permitted for this purpose on taps beside inland waterways (see Diagram R15.30h page 6.52 The Water Regulations Guide).

The British Marine Federation and WRAS are developing approved written and pictorial warning signs to display on or near hoses to remind users of the requirements and the risks.

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