A project Water Safety Plan is a proactive strategic plan which gives clear, definitive direction to manage any risk(s) identified during the design, construction, commissioning, handover, soft landing and use by the end users, to prevent harm from potential water-borne pathogens when exposed to water.
Historically, interaction between project stakeholders - such as those involved in new developments or refurbishments - and the Water Safety Group (WSG) has been relatively limited. To manage the risks identified effectively, all stakeholders need to be engaged from the outset so effective mitigation protocol can be discussed and agreed.
Regulatory Background and Key Guidance
BS8680 – Water Quality – Water Safety Plans – Code of Practice, Section 4.8 states:
“During design, the responsibility for water safety, alongside all design health and safety matters under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015, rests with the Principal Designer, who is required to plan, manage, and coordinate the planning and design works, and the Principal Contractor, who is required to plan, manage, and coordinate the construction work.”
The Project Water Safety Plan (PWSP) should define a clear process to ensure that the Principal Designer collaborates closely with the client, via the Water Safety Group (WSG), to develop a comprehensive brief for water system design—whether for new builds, refurbishments, or modifications to existing systems. This process should establish a thorough understanding of operating conditions and requirements, and ensure that Water Safety / Legionella risk assessments are conducted at each stage of the project, from design, construction, installation through to commissioning, handover and operation, and submitted to the WSG for review and feedback.
In a healthcare environment, the PWSP must also follow the content and guidance of NETB 24/3, released in August 2024, which enhances the existing guidance in HTM04-01 – Safe Water in Healthcare Premises.
Establishing a Project Water Safety Plan (PWSP)
Many organisations often manage multiple projects simultaneously, which can make oversight and coordination challenging. Each Water Safety Group (WSG) has a limited amount of time and meeting frequency—such as monthly or quarterly—to address a full agenda of operational compliance issues.
When several projects are underway at the same time, the volume of supporting documentation presented to the WSG can be overwhelming, leaving insufficient time for thorough review and scrutiny.
To provide WSG members with adequate support and resources for reviewing project data, Project Water Safety Groups (PWSGs) should be established as short-term, dedicated working groups. These PWSGs can collate and analyse information, then provide concise updates to the WSG for review and approval.
PWSG membership should include key representatives from the WSG, such as (but not limited to) the Responsible Person (Water), Authorised Persons (Water), Infection Prevention and Control Team, Estates Officer, Project Managers, and the Authorising Engineer (Water).
Key Components of a Project Water Safety Plan
The key components of a Project Water Safety Plan are;
Risk assessment: Identifies potential hazards and risks in the water system, such as contamination from the source, poor design, or installation issues.- Hazard control: Implements measures to mitigate identified risks during the project's construction and operation, including specific design specifications and material choices.
- System design: Incorporates safety considerations into the initial design to minimise risks, such as planning for sufficient access for cleaning and ensuring proper water flow.
- Operational procedures: Establishes protocols for ongoing management, including monitoring, maintenance, and procedures for dealing with incidents.
- Emergency response: Develops strategies to manage and respond to any incidents that occur, including waterborne disease outbreaks or physical hazards.
- Commissioning and handover: Ensures that the system is properly tested, commissioned, and handed over to the client with all risks controlled and documented.
- Documentation: Maintains a record of all management procedures, risk assessments, control measures, and actions taken throughout the project.
Commissioning, Handover, and Documentation
The Water Hygiene Centre has created a “Checklist for Projects” – Designing Safe Spaces for patients at high risk from nontuberculous mycobacteria and other water-borne pathogens to assist you in keeping abreast of your project governance, training, tender, design, installation, commissioning and handover of your project.
Having a clear and definitive Project Water Safety Plan will safeguard users from potential water-borne pathogens and other hazards, such as scalding and chemical hazards, ensure that the end product meets current regulatory requirements, minimise disruption that may impact current service delivery, and above all, ensure that the water systems are safe for the end user and anyone else exposed to them.
Getting it right the first time is crucial. The goal should always be to achieve ‘As Low As Reasonably Practicable’ (ALARP). Project handover delays (typically with associated cost penalties) most commonly arise due to failures relating to water and/or ventilation safety. Mistakes that require later rectification can be costly, time-consuming, and—most importantly—almost always preventable.
Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about the issues mentioned above or if you would like to consult with one of our experts on water hygiene.
Editor’s Note: The information provided in this blog is correct as of the date of original publication – January 2026
© Water Hygiene Centre 2026
