About the Scheme
Our National Water Hygiene (‘Blue Card’) scheme plays a vital part in ensuring the protection of public health and promoting safe drinking water practices. Originally developed in 2006, this scheme replaced the many different water company specific hygiene training programmes and courses, removing the need for individuals to undergo separate testing, health screening and the carrying of multiple cards.
Water companies across the UK mostly mandate National Water Hygiene for individuals entering clean water sites or engaged in operations on the clean water network, whether in direct contact with water or not.
We have recently re-developed our NWH scheme and its delivery materials. We have updated the scheme specification so that it clarifies what an individual will be assessed on and refreshed the programme slide show to both streamline delivery and ensure a more engaging approach. We have also introduced a Programme Leader’s Guide (PLG) to support trainers and give them a range of delivery tools (ie key facts, exercises, case studies) to enable a better all-round learning experience.
The re-developed scheme was launched in March 2019 and is currently being used by all approved NWH trainers.
Watch this Video
A two-minute video explaining why a National Water Hygiene EUSR registration is important to understanding good water hygiene practices and maintaining the supply of clean, clear and safe drinking water.
View our National Water Hygiene Covid-19 Update here.
About National Water Hygiene
Our National Water Hygiene (‘Blue Card’) scheme plays a vital part in ensuring the protection of public health and promoting good water hygiene practices. The scheme has been developed in collaboration with all UK water companies.
All UK water companies require individuals entering clean water sites or working on the clean water network – known as ‘Restricted Operations’, to hold a National Water Hygiene EUSR registration.
‘Restricted Operations’ includes working on service reservoirs, water pumping stations, water treatment works, wells, springs, boreholes as well as working on the network of water mains and service pipes.
It’s not just water company employees. If you are working on a ‘Restricted Operation’ on behalf of a water company subcontractor or other organisation, such as Self-Lay Organisation (SLOs) – then you need a National Water Hygiene EUSR registration.
Once you have successfully completed your National Water Hygiene training and assessment, you will understand the vital part you play in maintaining clean and safe drinking water and protecting public health. You will be issued with an National Water Hygiene EUSR photo ID card – which because of its blue colour, it’s also known as the ‘Blue Card’.
What’s covered?
The National Water Hygiene scheme is developed in collaboration with all UK water companies and key stakeholders from across the water industry, so you can be confident that the content covers all the required knowledge and awareness of good water hygiene practices:
There are four modules:
Module 1: The importance of water
Module 2: Water as a carrier of disease
Module 3: Potential contamination and its consequences
Module 4: Preventing contamination
Quality Assured
All Trainers delivering National Water Hygiene must be approved by us and have appropriate and recent water industry experience and competence – as well as training or assessment qualifications and experience. Our ongoing quality assurance, through monitoring and audits, ensures high quality training and a very positive learning experience.
Health Screening
A health screening questionnaire must be completed by all individuals prior to the training and assessment. In this questionnaire, you must declare whether you have, or have had in the preceding 12 months, any of these illnesses:
- Typhoid
- Paratyphoid
- Dysentery
- Persistent diarrhoea or vomiting
- Jaundice or Hepatitis (A or E)
- Prolonged unexplained fever
If you have, or have had, any of these illnesses, then you must get written confirmation from a medical practitioner, for example your GP, that you are illness and symptom free before you can be registered for National Water Hygiene on EUSR.
EUSR Registration
Completing a National Water Hygiene training programme and assessment results in an EUSR registration for three years.
EUSR is the energy and utilities sector register for skills, training – and sometimes authorisations and qualifications. Available online 24/7, it is used by employers, and individuals, to verify skills and training.
Registration on EUSR reduces duplication of training for those who work at more than one location – saving you and your employers, time and money.
Re-Registration on EUSR
When your National Water Hygiene(“Blue Card”) EUSR registration has expired, you will need to renew it by re-taking the training and assessment, either face-to-face or completing an e-Learning programme – this will depend on whether you are directly employed by a water company and also the approval status of the Trainer.
CITB Short Course
Energy & Utility Skills is a recognised Approved Training Organisation (ATO) for CITB and the UK construction industry. Our National Water Hygiene scheme is recognised by CITB for short course duration funding. If you are a Levy paying employer, to find out more about these grants, click here.
Drinking Water Inspectorate
Milo Purcell, Deputy Chief Inspector of the Drinking Water Inspectorate has stated “The Drinking Water Inspectorate welcomes this update to the Scheme, which covers a core competency for all those involved in the provision of water supply to the consumer’s tap. Participation in the Scheme helps promote high standards of hygiene and safety, ensuring that drinking water remains clean and safe, and that consumers are protected.”
“The updated National Water Hygiene Scheme is founded on the best practice enshrined in the water industry’s Principles of Water Supply Hygiene. It provides personnel in the sector with knowledge and awareness of the public health implications of their roles and enables water companies and contractors working on water supply systems to demonstrate their commitment to the promotion of a public health culture in delivery of routine activities.”
Find Out More
If you would like to get trained in this scheme, please use our scheme search to find a trainer. If you are a trainer and would like to deliver this scheme, please see our guidance on delivering passport schemes.
If you have any queries relating to EUSR or the evidence requirements for any of our schemes or programmes, please contact the EUSR Support team. We are available Monday – Friday, 8.00am – 5.00pm via email eusr@euskills.co.uk or tel: 0121 745 1310 (option 1).
