Construction Site Water Supply
Construction sites require a reliable, clean water supply, not only for construction processes, but also for the welfare of those working on-site.
The provision of hand washing facilities is vital for reducing the risk of widespread illness in the workforce and helping to prevent the spread of everything from common colds and winter flu to Covid-19.
But site welfare doesn’t stop at hygiene. Keeping construction workers healthy and happy also means providing reliable, easily accessible, clean drinking water – which becomes even more important during periods of particularly hot or cold weather.
For builders working outside and undertaking physically demanding tasks during hot weather spells, having easy access to a drink of cold water is vital to staying hydrated, productive, and happy.
Equally, the prospect of working outdoors in the cold can be made a lot more appealing with the ability to make a hot cup of tea or coffee to help you warm up when it’s time for a break.
Construction Site Welfare Requirements
The provision of a safe, reliable water supply for construction site welfare isn’t just recommended, it is also a legal requirement in the UK.
According to Schedule 2 of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015, construction sites are required to have specific welfare facilities in place, including:
- Toilets (these should be flushable rather than chemical toilets wherever possible)
- Clean running water for washing hands
- Drinking water (this should ‘always be available, clearly identified, and easy to get’)
- Depending on the type of work taking place on the site, showers may also be required.
An interruption to the water supply on a construction site can cause work to come to a sudden and unexpected standstill.
Construction sites cannot operate without sufficient welfare facilities, and unplanned stoppages can cause costly project delays and problems delivering contracted work.
How Water Direct Can Help
Water Direct works with construction sites across the UK to ensure that they have sufficient water for site welfare.
All our water is quality assured drinking water. Quality is important to us, so we go out of our way to ensure we are adhering to strict regulations and best practice guidelines through our unique monitoring, control, and assurance systems.
We can provide water on either a planned or emergency basis, depending on the needs of the site.
Planned Water Supply
Due to the nature of building sites, access to existing plumbing infrastructure is often not available for site welfare facilities. In these cases, a planned temporary water supply is required.
Emergency Water Delivery
For instances where there is an interruption to the usual site supply, Water Direct can provide an emergency water delivery to keep things going until the problem is resolved.
Whether water is needed for site welfare on a planned or emergency basis, we can offer a number of different options for construction site water deliveries, including…
Static Water Tanks
Static water storage tanks are a popular choice for both planned and emergency water deliveries to construction sites.
These versatile water tanks come in several size options (1100, 1800, or 10000 litre capacity) and can be used as standalone water storage units, drinking water stations, or connected to welfare facilities to provide running water to kitchens and toilet blocks.
Standalone Water Storage Units
Static water tanks are ideal for use as standalone water storage units. Fitted with taps, they can be used to fill up containers and water bottles just as they are, without the need for any additional connections or equipment.
Connected to Welfare Facilities
Water tanks can also be connected directly to welfare units to be used in the same way as mains water.
Dedicated Drinking Water Stations
A tap stand and pump (electric, petrol, or diesel), can also be provided to convert the water tank into a dedicated drinking water refill station. This is perfect for workers to refill their own reusable water bottles.
To save space on-site and ensure the water supply remains suitable for drinking, just order one static tank, and we can make further deliveries to refill your tank as needed. Each tank comes with a gauge so you can easily see when the water level is getting low.
Once you have finished with the tank, just open the 2” instantaneous tap to drain out any remaining water, and we will come and collect it.
Should you require access to larger volumes of water, several tanks can be delivered and connected together to provide a high volume water source.
Whilst every construction site is different, it can be handy to have a general idea of roughly how much water you will need. You may find the following figures (recommended in the BS 8551:2015 guidelines) helpful when calculating how much water you need for your construction site:
- Industrial sites (eg construction site/ quarry, without a canteen): 50 litres per person, per day
- Toilet blocks: 40 litres per person, per visit
- Showers: 40 litres per person, per use
If you have any questions or need any help working out how much water you need, just give us a call on 0345 345 1725 and one of our team will be happy to chat through your requirements.
Aqube™
For sites requiring up to 1,000 litres of water, the Aqube™ can be a convenient, affordable, and eco-friendly option.
The wooden pallet base, cardboard outer shell, and plastic lining inside are all fully recyclable, meaning that once you have used the water inside, the container can just be broken down and recycled locally.
Ideal for use as a standalone drinking water station, the Aqube™ will be delivered to your site complete with a versatile tap kit. A foot pump and hose can also be added to allow for easy filling of containers at different heights.
Bottled Water
Bottled water is ideally suited to emergency situations where water needs to be distributed around a construction site quickly, for example due to an interruption to the usual water supply.
We have a range of different sizes available, from small 330ml bottles up to large 5 litre bottles. Bottled water is sold via the pallet, and all our bottles are fully recyclable.
If you would like to discuss water supply solutions for a construction site, just give us a call and we will be happy to help: 0345 345 1725
Alternatively, you may be interested in browsing the products in our online shop, or why not read one of the following related posts.