TECHNICAL 35 and connection work and confirming registration on successful completion of the determination process .
• Plans scrutiny – all new commercial and residential developments are scrutinised by the relevant zonal inspector for compliance with the Water Supply By-Laws and the relevant South African National Standards . The Water Inspector needs to scrutinise the plans based on SANS 10400 , which was introduced in July 2015 .
• Ensuring water components are JASWIC listed , which is a bylaw requirement .
• Ensuring energy efficiency in buildings , green concepts , and SANS 10400 Part XA .
• Ensuring the prescribed 15 % water energy savings is achieved .
• Scrutinising and commenting on fire rational design with respect to connection sizes , storage tanks , pressure , and flow .
• Applying Water Policy with regards to metering in multiple residential complexes to ensure proportionate billing .
Often , we have queries from plumbers where they have been contacted by developers or body corporates , whereby the plumber is requested to provide a design to reticulate a building . We advise the plumber that they should advise the customer to engage the services of a wet services engineer to provide the design as plumbers should not undertake design work .
Private plumbers working within eThekwini ’ s area of jurisdiction in terms of the Water Supply By-Laws are required to be a responsible plumber with the city .
For a plumber to become metroetro registered , he or she will be required to undertake a written test with the municipality . The minimum requirements to be eligible to do the metro ticket is an artisan plumbers ’ qualification with a minimum of four years pretrade test experience .
The test comprises of the following modules ,
• Theory comprising bylaws and general plumbing questions ,
• Hot water system , pressurised geyser .
• Highrise buildings ,
• Backflow prevention
• How to size a connection based on loadings
• Fire and domestic installations .
As the agenda suggests , the Water Inspector is a friend which is true as we are here to assist the plumber and to ensure installation work within the municipality complies with the Water Supply Bylaws , Water Services Act and relevant SANS standards and most importantly , installation work done does not cause undue waste of water .
In closing I would like to take the opportunity of thanking the organisers , and more importantly the plumbers that made time to attend this event . PA
“… the Water Inspector is a friend which is true as we are here to assist the plumber …”
August 2023 Volume 29 I Number 6 www . plumbingafrica . co . za