Future Water, one of the UK's water sector's leading industry bodies, has set up a new working group with a specific focus on water industry standards.
The Future Water Standards and Regulations Group has been established to:
- be the focus of Future Water’s input to water sector standards and regulations of concern;
- be the route for members to participate in standards, representing Future Water;
- work with other organisations and external stakeholders to influence standards and regulations for the benefit of the sector;
- share updates on standards, regulations and industry guidance that affect members;
- develop and mentor members new to standards.
Launching the new group, Future Water said:
“Product and system standards are often seen as boring, too technical, stifling innovation and reducing things down to the lowest common denominator. Conforming to standards can be seen as costly.
“On the other hand, standards provide a level playing field within an industry, ensuring a level of quality and compatibility between different suppliers. Your compliance with a product standard can offer a powerful marketing message. Standards ensure that your supply chain is supplying products and services that are consistent with your requirements. Good standards, in fact, save money and encourage innovation.”
Future Water is emphasising the importance of ensuring that standards that are being developed do not come as a surprise to companies and organisations working in the sector, with the risk of being put at a competitive disadvantage.
Across the water sector, there is a plethora of standards, regulations and industry guidance, covering different products and materials, with the additional possibility of potential future divergence between Harmonised Standards (CE marking) and UK Designated Standards (UKCA marking) in a post-Brexit environment.
The group will be chaired by Dr David Smoker of ACO Technologies, who has over 15 years’ participation in British, European, and International standards work.
Commenting on the new group Paul Horton, Future Water CEO, said:
''Standards are a vital part of the water Industry, ensuring that we deliver excellence in projects and use the best equipment. They help to drive new ideas and innovations across products and services and the Future Water group is all about understanding and unlocking potential that standards bring to the water sector'.
The first meeting of the Water Standards & Regulations Group will take place on Thursday 10 February.
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