Growing public awareness of water related issues has created a large body of legislation and standards. Polypipe is committed to helping customers understand these issues and comply with all the necessary requirements. As an essential component of effective SUDS solutions, rainwater re-use plays a central part in this process and can help meet the requirements of PPS 25, Building Regulations Part H, the Code for Sustainable Homes and many other recognised standards. Rainwater re-use can also help achieve the aims of the Wildlife and Countryside Link's Blueprint for Water document, which offers a timetable for achieving a sustainable standard of water by 2015. It complements the EU's Water Framework Directive by aiming to reduce consumption by 20% - something which rainwater re-use can often achieve.

Future water strategy
This document explains how the Government wants the water industry to operate by the year 2030. It focuses on such issues as reducing water consumption from 150 litres per day to 130 litres per day and improving water supply by building more reservoirs and issuing fewer abstraction licenses. The quality of water in the natural environment is also covered, as is the use of SUDS measures to improve surface water drainage, the wider use of water metering in water stressed areas and the need for better planning to reduce the risk of flooding from rivers and rising sea levels.
For more information visit www.official-documents.gov.uk

Planning policy statement 25
This sets out Government policy on flood risks associated with development. It aims to make flooding a central consideration of the planning process, so that only appropriate development is undertaken in areas at risk, with that risk limited as far as possible.
For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk

The Code for Sustainable Homes
The Code is used to rate the environmental performance of new homes in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and compliance is mandatory. To achieve target ratings set for 2016, developers must adopt measures such as rainwater re-use that will significantly cut water consumption.
For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/thecode

BS: 8515
This BSI rainwater harvesting code of practice gives guidance on design, installation, testing and maintenance of systems for non-potable applications.
For more information visit www.bsi-global.com

BREEAM
The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is now recognised as the standard measure of sustainable building design. It addresses environmental and sustainability issues and enables developers to prove the environmental credentials of their buildings to planners and clients.
For more information visit www.breeam.org