The Water Regulations Advisory Scheme (WRAS) task is to promote knowledge of water regulations throughout the UK. Their primary aims are to prevent undue waste, excess consumption, and contamination of the UK’s water supply. The WRAS is a subscription membership company that works on behalf of the UK’s water companies. It effectively forms a governing body which promotes, and helps to enforce, the UK’s water regulations, laid down in 1999. They publish the official guide to water regulations, and manufacturers can pay the body to have their products tested, to ensure that they are compliant with the code. All approved plumbing fittings carry the WRAS mark, which is your guarantee that they meet the UK’s exacting water regulations. While it is not illegal to install or manufacture fittings which do not carry the WRAS mark, compliance standards must still be met, and non-approved items are typically only used where human health would not be compromised. THE WRAS acts as an advisory service for and on behalf of the water supply companies, offering guidance to anyone who needs help understanding and implementing the principles of water regulation. They also liaise with other members of the industry including professional, trade and government organisations regarding all water related matters. The body is also instrumental in developing practical and appropriate national and international standards for water fittings and plumbing All leading manufacturers ensure that their products meet the WRAS’s exacting standards, and that they are compliant with the UK’s exacting water standards. This means that you can be certain that when you purchase a product exhibiting the WRAs mark, it has undergone rigorous trials and testing to ensure that it perfectly performs the job it was designed to. It is worth bearing in mind that while specific parts of a plumbing system may meet the requirements laid down by the WRAS, if they are installed, and/or operated incorrectly they could still breach the 1999 code. Therefore, it is always worth ensuring you employ a qualified plumber when fitting complex plumbing installations.