Fluid Categories
Guidance
Determination of fluid category 1
Wholesome water supplied by a water undertaker and complying with the requirements of regulations made under water section 67 of the Water Industry Act 1991.
Example:
Water supplied directly from a water undertaker’s main.
Determination of fluid category 2
Water in fluid category 1 whose aesthetic quality is impaired owing to:
a change in its temperature; or
the presence of substances or organisms causing a change in its taste, odour or appearance, including water in a hot water distribution system.
Examples:
Mixing of hot and cold water supplies
Domestic softening plant (common salt regeneration).
Drink vending machines in which no ingredients or carbon dioxide are injected into the
supply or distributing inlet pipe.
Fire sprinkler systems (without anti-freeze).
Ice making machines.
Water cooled air conditioning units (without additives).
Determination of fluid category 3
Fluid which represents a slight health hazard because of the concentration of substances of low toxicity, including any fluid which contains:
ethylene glycol, copper sulphate solution, or similar chemical additives; or
sodium hypochlorite (chloros and common disinfectants).
Examples:
Water in primary circuits and heating systems (with or without additives) in a house.
Domestic washbasins, baths and showers.
Domestic clothes and dishwashing machines.
Home dialysing machines.
Drink vending machines in which ingredients or carbon dioxide are injected.
Commercial softening plant (common salt regeneration only).
Domestic hand held hoses with flow controlled spray or shut-off control.
Hand held fertiliser sprays for use in domestic gardens.
Domestic or commercial irrigation systems, without insecticide or fertiliser additives and with fixed sprinkler heads not less than 150mm above ground level.
Determination of fluid category 4
Fluid which represents a significant health hazard due to the concentration of toxic substances, including any fluid which contains:
chemical, carcinogenic substances or pesticides (including insecticides and herbicides); or
environmental organisms of potential health significance.
Examples:
General
Primary circuits and central heating systems in other than a house.
Fire sprinkler systems using anti-freeze solutions.
House gardens
Mini-irrigation systems without fertiliser or insecticide application; such as pop-up
sprinklers or permeable hoses.
Food processing
Food preparation.
Dairies.
Bottle washing apparatus.
Catering
Commercial dishwashing machines.
Bottle washing apparatus.
Refrigerating equipment.
Industrial and commercial installations
Dyeing equipment.
Industrial disinfection equipment.
Printing and photographic equipment.
Car washing and degreasing plants.
Commercial clothes washing plants.
Brewery and distillation plant.
Water treatment plant or softeners using other than salt.
Pressurised fire fighting systems.
Determination of fluid category 5
Fluid representing a serious health hazard because of the concentration of pathogenic
organisms, radioactive or very toxic substances, including any fluid which contains:
faecal material or other human waste; or
butchery or other animal waste; or
pathogens from any other source.
Examples:
General
Industrial cisterns.
Non-domestic hose union taps.
Sinks, urinals, WC pans and bidets.
Permeable pipes in other than domestic gardens, laid below or at ground level, with or
without chemical additives.
Grey water recycling systems.
Medical
Any medical or dental equipment with submerged inlets.
Laboratories.
Bedpan washers.
Mortuary and embalming equipment.
Hospital dialysing machines.
Commercial clothes washing plant in health care premises.
Non-domestic sinks, baths, washbasins and other appliances.
Food processing
Butchery and meat trades.
Slaughterhouse equipment.
Vegetable washing.
Catering
Dishwashing machines in health care premises.
Vegetable washing.
Industrial and commercial installations
Industrial and chemical plant etc.
Mobile plant, tankers and gully emptiers.
Laboratories.
Sewage treatment and sewer cleansing.
Drain cleaning plant.
Water storage for agricultural purposes.
Water storage for firefighting purposes.
Commercial agricultural
Commercial irrigation outlets below or at ground level and/or permeable pipes, with or
without chemical additives.
Insecticide or fertiliser applications.
Commercial hydroponic systems.
Note: The list of examples of applications shown above for each fluid category is not exhaustive.