What is the Network Construction Operations (Water) scheme?
The Network Construction Operations (NCO) Water scheme – also known as NCO (Water) – is a registration scheme for the skills, knowledge and understanding required to perform various tasks and duties on the water networks. The registration categories reflect the different roles.
The scheme is for all individuals involved in water network operations and provides organisations and asset owners assurance that all individuals undertaking work on the water network have the appropriate level of relevant skills, knowledge and understanding.
NCO Water registration is accepted by LRQA as evidence of competence for Self-Lay contractors for their Water Industry Scheme (WIRS).
There are 2 routes to registration for the NCO (Water) scheme:
- completion of a regulated national vocational qualification (NVQ), e.g. EUIAS Level 2 Network Construction Operations (Water), the CABWI Level 2 Certificate in Network Construction Operations (Water), a City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Network Construction Operations (Water) or an SQA SVQ in Network Construction Operations (Water)
OR
- completion of an approved Institute for Apprenticeship and Technical Education Apprenticeship, e.g. Water Network Operative.
These are available through awarding organisations and training providers and have been developed using national occupational standards/apprenticeship standards and are based on the appropriate roles.
Alternative Route to Registration
The Level 2 Water Network Operative apprenticeship is a new route to registration for the NCO Water Scheme in the following categories:
- Service Layer
- Mains Layer 180mm
- Repair & Maintenance
Individuals must also hold a current EUSR registration for Safety, Health and Environmental Awareness (SHEA) Water and National Water Hygiene (NWH)
If you or an employee have achieved the above, you can submit a request for registration by emailing eusr@euskills.co.uk.
Registration Categories
The NCO Water scheme provides the following registration categories, starting 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 (Probationary) and Trainee (Experienced Worker)
- Assistant
- Service Layer
- Mains Layer up to 180mm / up to 315mm / up to 355mm and above
- Repair & Maintenance
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
EUSR Registration
Registrations for NCO (Gas)/(Water) can be made online:
For everyone else, you can apply via. Our online shop.
If you are an approved provider, you can submit applications using QuartzWeb.
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 recently achieved categories where the required evidence has been submitted and verified.
Renewal registration is available for the following categories only:
- Assistant
- Service Layer
- Mains Layer up to 180mm
- Mains Layer up to 315mm
- Mains Layer up to 355mm
- Mains Layer 315mm and above
- Mains Layer 355mm and above
- Repair & Maintenance
Evidence Requirements
Registration on EUSR for the NCO (Water) scheme is based upon the completion of an appropriate regulated qualification or an apprenticeship and where evidence for registration has been submitted and verified.
The evidence requirements are detailed under each registration category page.
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.