Network Construction Operations (NCO) Water
About the Scheme
The Network Construction Operations Water is a registration scheme for the skills, knowledge and understanding required to perform various tasks and duties on the water network.
This common standard applies to all organisations involved in water network operations and provides organisations and asset owners assurance that all individuals undertaking work for them on the water network have an appropriate level of relevant skills, knowledge and understanding.
NCO registration (Water) is accepted by Lloyds Register as evidence of competence for Self-Lay contractors for their Water Industry Registration Scheme (WIRS).
Water industry apprenticeships, trainee water technician and trainee water engineer are all included for NCO registration.
Registration Categories
Registration on NCO (Water) is available in the following categories:
- Trainee (Probationary) and Trainee (Experienced Worker)
- Assistant
- Service Layer
- Main Layer (broken down by mains pipe size)
- Supervisor
In addition to the registration category listed above, the individual will also be registered as either ‘Self-Lay’ or ‘Distribution’ – determined by their qualification and submitted as part of the evidence requirements.
Registration on EUSR
Registration on EUSR is gained when the evidence for registration has been submitted and verified. For new-entrant individuals, evidence requirements include the industry-specific qualification – see more detail within each registration category.
For NCO (Water) registration on EUSR – Trainee (Probationary) and Trainee (Experienced Worker) categories – it is a pre-requisite that the individual holds a valid EUSR registration for both National Water Hygiene and Safety, Health and Environmental Awareness (SHEA) Water.
NCO (Water) registration is valid for five years, with the exception of the Trainee categories; registration for the Trainee (Probationary) category is valid for thirty months. Registration for Trainee (Experienced Worker) is 30 months until 30th April 2025. After this date the registration period with be 12 months. Registration for both categories of Trainee cannot be renewed and registration is only available once on each category.
More information on requirements for registration is detailed within the relevant Registration Category.
Re-Registration for NCO (Water)
Re-registration for NCO (Water) is achieved through an Employer Declaration. The declaration must be signed by a Senior Officer of the employing company who must be in a position to make such a declaration about an individual’s knowledge and skills. Self-employed individuals – or Senior Officers – should obtain a declaration from a Senior Officer on their last relevant contract. Assistant.
The re-registration is valid for five years either from the date of the expired category(ies) or, if still valid, from the declared competency date. Re-registration is available for the following categories:
- Service Layer
- Main Layer up to 180mm*
- Main Layer up to 315mm*
- Main Layer 315mm and above*
- Supervisor
*When re-registering, Main Layers will be able to register for additional pipe size categories subject to appropriate evidence being submitted.
For NCO (Water) re-registration on EUSR, it is a pre-requisite that the individual holds a valid EUSR registration for both National Water Hygiene and Safety, Health and Environmental Awareness (SHEA) Water.
In addition to the re-registration category listed above, the individual will also be registered as either ‘Self-Lay’ or ‘Distribution’ – determined by their qualification, submitted as part of the evidence requirements.
Please see our Payment Guidelines on the payment methods available.
To pay for your EUSR registration click here.
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 – Friday, 8.00am – 5.00pm via email eusr@euskills.co.uk or tel: 0121 745 1310.
