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Title / Install and maintain water mains and water supply systems and reticulation
Level / 4 / Credits / 8
Purpose / This unit standard is for people who work in the plumbing industry.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: excavate and prepare the base for water mains; install and commission water mains; position and install water supply systems and reticulation; describe treatment methods for water purification of privately-owned water supply systems; maintain water mains and water supply systems and reticulation; work safely and with care; and demonstrate knowledge of regulatory requirements, selection of methods and materials, and the concepts of hydrostatics and hydraulics, as applied to the installation and maintenance of water mains and water supply systems and reticulation.
Classification / Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying > Plumbing
Available grade / Achieved
Prerequisites / Current drainlaying certificate or licence as issued under the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006; and Unit 1099, Excavate and trench for plumbing, gasfitting, or drainlaying; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Guidance Information
1Legislation, standards, and codes applicable to this unit standard include but are not limited to:
Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006;
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Building Act 2004;
Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Regulations 1977;
Water Supplies Protection Regulations 1961;
AS/NZS 3500.1:2003 Plumbing and drainage – Water services;
NZS 3604:1999 Timber Framed Buildings;
NZS 4302:1987 Code of practice for the control of hygiene in air and water systems in buildings;
NZS 5807:1980 Code of practice for industrial identification by colour, wording or other coding; available at
New Zealand Building Code, Clause G10 Piped Services, and Clause G12 Water Supplies, current versions and any related compliance documents, available at
May include:
Health Act 1956.
Any legislation, standard, or code superseding any of the above will apply, pending review of this unit standard.
2This unit standard relates to both reticulated network authority mains and self-contained water supply systems. Self-contained water supply systems may refer to private water collection or bore and distribution systems.
3Range
jointing – compression, crimped, crox, flange, fusion weld, gibault, glued, rush pit, screwed, threaded;
water mains fittings – hydrants, valves;
water mains structures – anchor blocks, thrust blocks.
4This unit standard requires the application of theory as included in the Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Regulations 1977. These Regulations are currently under review to align them with the newer Plumbers, Gasfitters, and Drainlayers Act 2006.
5Definitions
Job requirements refers to specific requirements of the job at hand not covered by job specifications.
Job specifications, for the purpose of this unit standard, refers to instructions (oral, written, graphic) and may include any of the following: manufacturers’ instructions; design drawing detail specifications; specifications from a specialist source such as an architect, designer, engineer, or a supervisor; and site or work specific requirements. Where job specifications are in conflict with applicable legislation, standards, and/or codes, such legislation, standards, and/or codes shall take precedence for the purpose of assessment.
Maintain may refer to all or any of – repair, upgrade, alter, remove.
Other services refers to any existing installed services.
Water mains refers to water mains and associated fittings and structures;
Water supply systems and reticulation refer to water collection, storage, and distribution pipework to buildings, and to metering equipment.
Regulatory requirements, for the purpose of this unit standard, refers to applicable legislation, standards, and codes.
Outcomes and performance criteria
Outcome 1
Excavate and prepare the base for water mains.
Performance criteria
1.1Position for water mains is located in accordance with job specifications.
1.2Excavation is carried out in accordance with job specifications.
1.3Stable sub-base is identified in accordance with visual assessment and job specifications.
1.4Base material is selected, prepared, and levelled in accordance with site conditions and job specifications.
Outcome 2
Install and commission water mains.
Performance criteria
2.1Water mains are constructed and associated fittings are installed in accordance with job specifications.
2.2Water mains, hydrants, thrust blocks, and valves are installed and connected to connections and discharge points in accordance with job specifications.
2.3Water mains are identified by label and/or colour in accordance with relevant standards and codes.
2.4Water mains and associated fittings are commissioned and operate to design function.
2.5The installation meets requirements of the Building Act 2004.
Outcome 3
Position water supply systems and reticulation.
Performance criteria
3.1Water supply systems are positioned in accordance with intended use.
3.2Water supply systems are positioned to measurements in accordance with job specifications and relevant standards and codes.
3.3Water supply systems are positioned to prevent contamination and/or damage in accordance with job specifications and relevant standards and codes.
Outcome 4
Install water supply systems and reticulation.
Performance criteria
4.1Water supply systems are installed in accordance with job specifications and relevant standards and codes.
4.2Water supply systems are connected to connection and termination points in accordance with job specifications and relevant standards and codes.
4.3Water supply systems are tested for soundness in accordance with job specifications and relevant standards and codes.
4.4Water supply systems and pipelines are identified by label and/or colour and direction of reticulated flow in accordance with relevant standards and codes.
4.5The installation meets requirements of the Building Act 2004.
Outcome 5
Describe treatment methods for water purification of privately-owned water supply systems.
Rangechemical, distillation, filtration, straining, UV lighting.
Performance criteria
5.1Treatment methods for water purification of privately-owned water supply systems are described in accordance with relevant standards and codes.
Outcome 6
Maintain water mains and water supply systems and reticulation.
Performance criteria
6.1Water mains and water supply systems and reticulation are assessed in accordance with maintenance requirements.
6.2Faults are identified in terms of causes and means of rectification.
6.3Faults are rectified in accordance with maintenance requirements, job specifications, and relevant standards and codes.
Outcome 7
Work safely and with care.
Performance criteria
7.1Practical activities are carried out avoiding harm to people and damage to property, other services, materials, tools, and equipment.
Outcome 8
Demonstrate knowledge of regulatory requirements, selection of methods and materials, and the concepts of hydrostatics and hydraulics, as applied to the installation and maintenance of water mains and water supply systems and reticulation.
Performance criteria
8.1Applicable sections of legislation, standards, and codes are described in terms of their application to the installation and maintenance of water mains and water supply systems and reticulation.
8.2Selection of methods and materials is justified.
Rangejob specifications, operation of the installed system and components; may include job requirements.
8.3The concepts and principles of hydrostatics and hydraulics are explained in terms of their application to the installation and maintenance of water mains and water supply systems and reticulation.
Replacement information / This unit standard was replaced by unit standard 30614 and unit standard 30615.This unit standard replaced unit standard 2145, unit standard 2160, and unit standard 2161.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 25 October 2007 / 31 December 2022
Review / 2 / 26 October2017 / 31 December 2022
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0003
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
The Skills OrganisationSSB Code 100401 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018 / / New Zealand Qualifications Aut