What is Wras? Everything you need to know

On the surface, WRAS approved products will look like any other. The difference lies on the inside. Parts may not have been tested for suitability for use with water intended for human consumption. They may leak contaminates, such as lead. The fixings may not be secure. And while many products without WRAS certification might well be entirely compliant with British standards, there will always be some that aren’t.

Whether through a lack of understanding – many countries have less stringent regulations than the UK – or through of lack of care. Because here’s the tricky bit:

It’s not illegal to sell WRAS non-compliant goods in the UK. But as a company owner, you will face penalties if any equipment you are responsible for does not demonstrably comply with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Byelaws.

It’s not fair. But that is how it is.

It’s a point of pride for MIW Water Cooler Experts that we only supply WRAS approved water dispensers. This is important to us because we believe in honesty. We believe in giving our customers what they pay for, in not shirking responsibility. In supplying goods that are not transparently compliant with all water authority guidelines we would be potentially setting our customers up for an expensive fall. And that’s something that would go against the entire ethos of the company.

WRAS approval means that we can be 100% certain of every assertion we make to our customers about the quality and safety of our products. And it means that we can sleep at night, knowing that we’ve fulfilled our obligations as best as we possibly can.

We work with WRAS approved water coolers simply because it’s the right thing to do.

The simplest way to be certain of WRAS approval is to look for the logo. But to be sure that you know what you’re getting, it’s also a good idea to take the following steps.

• Ask the supplier for the WRAS approval certificate relating to the model
• Check the WRAS approval number. It’s a two-step process which takes seconds.
• And avoid misleading claims such as ‘fitted with WRAS approved faucets.’ This is deliberate obfuscation and demonstrates that a single part of the unit has been WRAS approved, not the entire unit.

We’ve already touched on this, but it’s important to understand that WRAS approval is not mandatory when purchasing hydration equipment. Whether for your business premises or for sitting in a public position. Therefore, it is not illegal to sell products in the UK that do not meet with the requirements of the Water Supply (Water Fittings) Regulations and Byelaws.

However, all equipment that comes into contact with the national water supply must demonstrably comply with the requirements of the above regulations. WRAS approval guarantees this.

And if, as an organisation, you are responsible for any water-related equipment, the onus is on you to demonstrate that it complies with the relevant guidelines. If you cannot, you can be made to remove the equipment. Regardless of how much it cost. Or the good faith with which you made your investment. Without WRAS certification, it can be incredibly difficult to prove that your equipment is compliant.