What is a Watercare compliance statement?
A document that confirms that the design or construction works have been completed in accordance with our standards.
Why do I need to provide Watercare with a compliance statement?
The statement is a way to ensure work is completed to a consistent standard across all assets that we manage. Without proof that the minimum standards are met, we will not accept assets vested to us, or to be connected to any Watercare asset.
Who completes the statement?
The statements are completed by subject matter experts who are proficient in their field. Proficiency is based on minimum levels of academic qualifications and competency, as assessed by an independent registration board or organisation.
What qualifications must I have, to submit a statement?
For design work the person must have suitable design qualifications and experience. For construction works a person must be qualified to perform certain tasks such as plastic pipe welding or drainlaying.
What registration board or professional body do I need to belong to?
We list recognised registration boards in the compliance statement guidelines. Registration with a board must be appropriate to demonstrate competency in your practice area.
How do you select the registration boards?
Registration boards must evaluate or screen membership to ensure the member demonstrates competency in the industry and practice area. The board should hold their members to account and require that they adhere to a code of conduct or ethics. The boards are local to New Zealand, or where international agreement terms between registrars exist.
What if the board I belong to is not recognised?
We will accept alternative registrars where it can be shown that inter-organisational agreements exist.
Alternatively an equivalent qualified person with recognised registration must review your work and provide a compliance statement in review (design) or instead of the originator (construction).
What happens if I do not provide a compliance statement?
The design or constructed assets will not be accepted for vestment to Watercare.
Which works require a compliance statement?
Compliance statements are required for all engineering works. The statements are hold points between design and construction, and construction and connection.
The progressive points where we require statements are:
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completion of the final design (CS1/CS2)
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components or stages of construction to allow staged commissioning (CS3/4)
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or at the end of the construction work (CS3/4).
What evidence do I need to provide with the design statements?
It depends on the type of work. In terms of design some works may require additional reports such as geotechnical reports, but process works at plants may not. At a minimum a comprehensive design report that includes the basis for design, calculations, proposed construction monitoring levels and material selection. The design drawings need to be in final format and the designer needs to show that Safety in Design principles have been followed.
What evidence do I need to provide with the construction statements?
For construction works you must supply:
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the test certificates and quality control aspects as required by our standards, with
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complete sets of as-built drawings and asset registers, operational manuals and commissioning reports.
What are the consequences of signing a statement and what am I liable for?
By certifying work you take responsibility for it complying with our standards. If misconduct or negligence is proven, we will pursue damages and report any misconduct to the registration board, with the aim of revoking membership and thereby preventing future work on our assets.
When will my statement not be accepted?
Common reasons could include an inappropriate level of qualification, incorrectly completed statements or incomplete evidence. The compliance statement guidelines set out the full conditions of acceptance.
Can I use an IPENZ producer statement for Watercare works?
Only if the works are in relation to the building code and an IPENZ producer statement is required for consent purposes. IPENZ producer statements cannot be used for demonstrating compliance with Watercare’s standards. Likewise, the Watercare compliance statements cannot be used for supporting building consent applications.