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Kevin Wellman, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE)
Following warnings from a recent House of Lords report that England could face a daily water shortfall of five billion litres by 2055 without urgent action to improve water efficiency, rainwater management and water reuse, Kevin Wellman, CEO of the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), said:
"The plumbing profession has a critical role to play in helping the UK meet its water-efficiency ambitions. Whether it's rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling or more efficient water systems in homes and buildings, success depends on competent installation and ongoing maintenance.
“As these technologies become more widely adopted, government and industry must ensure that training, qualifications and professional standards keep pace. It’s critical that the industry skills required are taught from entry level so that water efficiency and public health protection remain inseparable.
"At the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering (CIPHE), we believe that improving water efficiency must go hand in hand with raising standards of competence across the industry. That's why we have been engaging with policymakers at DEFRA on the need for mandatory water efficiency training and why rainwater harvesting forms part of the plumbing apprenticeship standards we are currently developing.”