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Network Construction Operations (NCO) Water

About the Scheme

The Network Construction Operations Water, NCO (Water) scheme is for individuals who are required to work on the water networks as part of their role. 

The scheme is evidence based and requires individuals to either be registered for and undertaking an industry qualification or apprenticeship or to have completed and been certificated for one. This ensures that both industry and individual’s employers can be confident in their skills, knowledge and understanding required to perform various tasks and duties on the water networks. 

The registration categories reflect the different roles across the networks, some aspects into ‘pipe sizes’, and incorporate individual’s specialist skills such as Repair and Maintenance. 

The scheme is CSCS affiliated and EUSR registration carries the CSCS logo, which permits individuals access onto construction sites for the purposes of service and/or main laying and associated activities.  

NCO Water registration is accepted by LRQA as evidence of competence for Self-Lay contractors for their Water Industry Registrations Scheme (WIRS). 

Acceptable Qualifications/Apprenticeships

The following qualifications and apprenticeships may be submitted as evidence for EUSR registration.   

Assistant – (Labourer) 

  • City & Guilds Level 1 Network Construction Operations (Water) 
  • CABWI Level 1 Certificate in Network Construction Operations (Water)
     

Service Layer, Main Layer, Repair and Maintenance – (Skilled Worker) 

  • EUIAS Level 2 Diploma in Network Construction Operations (Water) 
  • CABWI Level 2 Certificate in Network Construction Operations (Water) 
  • City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Network Construction Operations (Water) 
  • SQA SVQ Level 5 in Network Construction Operations (Water) 
  • CABWI Level 2 Water Distribution Services or Water Distribution Mains 
  • Edexcel Level 2 in Network Construction Operations (Water) 
  • CABWI Level 2 Public Utilities Distribution (Water)  
  • CITB/C&G Level 2 CCES – Public Utilities Services – Water Services or Water Mains  
  • Water Network Operative (WNO) Level 2 Apprenticeship  

Evidence requirements 

The following evidence requirements apply from 2 January 2025. 

Individuals are required to hold an original qualification certificate, e-certificate or apprenticeship certificate, and unit certificates (where required) for registration purposes. 

Individuals are required to submit their certificates with every registration application to ensure the timely processing of registration applications. 

The evidence required for each registration category and pathway, along with the registration period is set out under each registration category page.

Registration Categories 

The following list of registration categories starts with Trainee for those entering the water industry progressing through to a more specialist role for those individuals who locate and repair leaks and carry out maintenance on the water network:  

  • Trainee  
  • Assistant 
  • Service Layer 
  • Mains Layer up to 180mm 
  • Mains Layer 180mm up to 315mm 
  • Mains Layer 180mm up to 355mm 
  • Mains Layer 315mm and above 
  • Mains Layer 355mm and above 
  • Repair & Maintenance 
  • Supervisor 

Registration Pathways  

In addition to the registration categories listed,?an individual will also be registered as either ‘Self-Lay’ or ‘Distribution’ pathway, or both.  This is determined by the qualification/units completed or the apprenticeship undertaken.  

As a guide: 

  • the unit for working on ‘Sites’ is ‘Self-Lay’ pathway 
  • the unit for working in the ‘Highway’ is ‘Distribution’ pathway 

Lost or missing certificates

Where certificates have been lost, or destroyed, or they are photocopies rather than the originals, individuals are advised to obtain replacement certificates as soon as possible. 

Replacement certificates may be obtained by contacting the relevant Awarding Organisations, e.g. 

You will need to provide as much information as you can as this will enable the Awarding Organisation to search their records and produce a replacement certificate. The information they request to support their search may include: 

Full name, date of birth, the name of the qualification you completed, the year you completed the qualification, the name of your training provider or the college you attended. 

Registration Pre-requisite

An individual registered as an Assistant must have EUSR registration for both National Water Hygiene and Safety, Health & Environmental Awareness (SHEA) Water as a pre-requisite.

Applications for EUSR Registration

Registration applications can be made via our online shop or directly through our online registration system, QuartzWeb.   

Online shop – applications will include completion of an online registration form, acceptance of specific terms and conditions, making payment. 

QuartzWeb – EUSR Approved Providers and EUSR Approved Trainers may make applications for NCO Gas Scheme registration directly through our online system.  

EUSR Registration Renewal

Registration renewal on EUSR is required after 5 years.  An individual may be re-registered for NCO (Water) for their existing or additional categories where the required certificate evidence is submitted and verified.  

Renewal registration is valid for 5 years and is available for all scheme categories – with the exception of Trainee (Probationary and Experienced Worker).  

Quality Assurance and Sampling 

We sample registration applications and verify the evidence provided. This may include liaising with the relevant awarding organisation to confirm a certificate’s authenticity and validity.  

Where certificate fraud is suspected, we will not process the application, and we will conduct further checks. This will result in a delay in the registration process. 

Where certificate fraud is confirmed, we will carry out the actions laid out in our fraud policy; which includes:  

  • notify the relevant Awarding Organisation 
  • notify the Police, CSCS, LRQA, individuals, and employer 
  • remove existing EUSR scheme registrations related to the fraud 
  • remove access to submit NCO applications, either temporarily or permanently   

Find Out More

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 – Thursday 8.00 am – 5.00 pm, Friday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm, via email eusr@euskills.co.uk or Tel: 0121 745 1310.