What is an Authorising Engineer (Water)?

An Authorising Engineer (Water), or AE (Water), is a specialist advisor appointed to bring independent oversight to the management of water systems. With expertise in waterborne pathogens, compliance standards, and water system design, their role is to provide assurance that an organisation is operating safe and legally compliant water systems. They offer a blend of technical knowledge and impartial governance, ensuring that Water Safety Plans (WSP) are robust, risks are understood, and responsibilities are clearly defined.

In this article, we take a closer look at what the AE (Water) role involves, from their place within the Water Safety Group (WSG) to the responsibilities they carry in assessing risk, auditing processes, and guiding compliance with legislation. We’ll also explore the value they bring as an independent voice, the challenges they help organisations to overcome, and why their input is such a vital element in maintaining safe water systems across healthcare and other high-risk environments.

What is an Authorising Engineer (Water)?

An Authorising Engineer (Water) is an independent professional advisor (often external to an organisation) with expert knowledge in water safety, waterborne pathogens (such as Legionella and Pseudomonas), and the design and operation of water systems. Their main purpose is to provide assurance, governance, and oversight of water safety management to ensure the delivery of safe water supplies and compliance with legislation.

Examining the AE (Water) role in more detail

That’s a basic description though, so let’s see what else we can learn about the role.

According to the UK’s Department of Health HTM 04-01 Safe water in healthcare premises, the Authorising Engineer (Water) should be a member of the organisations Water Safety Group (WSG). The WSG is responsible for compiling and then following the Water Safety Plan (WSP). This ensures the water system is safe for use and is properly managed.

As you may know, there are various reports and elements of technical guidance that must be followed for a business or organisation to meet all legal requirements regarding the provision of safe water systems under their control. The AE (Water) should adhere to this guidance, imparting information as necessary to those in the WSG.

There is no clear set of actions an AE of this type should follow, and this can occasionally cause confusion. However, the role should highlight all necessary concerns and challenges faced by the Water Safety Group and those within it. The experience of the AE (Water) will ensure that nothing is overlooked, and therefore that the rules and regulations are followed.

What role does the Water Safety Group play?

The WSG is a group of individuals that often represent different areas of an organisation. Thus, each brings their own expertise and knowledge to the table as part of the group.

The onus is on managing water safely, and specifically in managing the water systems in place in the building or organisation concerned. Obviously, the individuals contributing to the WSG will vary depending on the business and its size and complexity. Healthcare organisations, for example, must consider the needs and risks posed by patients across different departments, where some may be at greater risk of Legionnaires’ disease, Pseudomonas or other waterborne bacteria.

What role does the Authorising Engineer (Water) play?

The AE (Water) is an independent role, one that forms part of the WSG and yet provides an external view of the situation and how effective the Water Safety Plan is. They will be experienced professionals and will know about all relevant legislation and technical guidance in this area. They’ll also be up to date with all changes to such legislation and guidance.

This knowledge comes into play in various ways. For example, an AE (Water) will advise on whether anyone identified as playing a role in the WSG is competent to do so. They’ll be able to identify whether individuals require more training. They can also ensure the WSG functions in the proper manner, to maintain water safety.

A key role undertaken by an Authorising Engineer involves ensuring compliance with legislation, auditing performance, and advising on appointments and technical issues. Their position as an independent AE (Water) means they are not bound by any internal politics or rules pertaining to the business. Instead, they can assess the water safety plan and all current water management processes from the outside in. They are then able to identify what’s working and more importantly, if there is anything that requires attention.

Expert water safety solutions and support long into the future

Plenty of people read about the role of an AE (Water) and their eyes are immediately drawn to the annual audit process. It might feel as if the AE is trying to catch you out, and that’s reasonable enough. Yet it’s not true.

It’s best to look at the services provided by an Authorising Engineer (Water) as a solid method for ensuring your water safety management approach is solid and will stand up to regulator scrutiny. With so much legislation, technical guidance, and other recommended actions to follow, it’s reassuring to know you have the support of an AE (Water).

Their experience can help in plenty of ways, too. The Water Safety Group should have a Water Safety Plan in place. It should have completed a Legionella risk assessment, plus an assessment of the risks posed by any other waterborne bacteria. There should be control measures and regular checks undertaken by those with the experience to do so. Finally, there should be records kept confirming everything that has been done.

In some cases, those in a WSG may believe they are following all the necessary steps to maintain a safe water supply. And yet there may be times when tests confirm high levels of bacteria in the water. This can sometimes be traced back to the risk assessment. If this is not robust enough to begin with – and if it does not highlight all potential risks – any control measures brought in may not be sufficient. An Authorising Engineer will be able to go through the risk assessment and confirm whether anything has been missed at this early stage. They will also be able to consider regular measures to maintain safety, such as cleaning various parts of the system, to determine whether they are sufficient.

To this end, you can see that an Authorising Engineer (Water) can be a powerful person to have supporting your organisation or business. Even if you believe you are doing everything properly to ensure a safe water supply, you may have issues with Legionella bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, or another waterborne bacterium. If that’s the case, you’re missing something somewhere, and an AE (Water) can help you identify the issue.

Hiring an external and independent Authorising Engineer (Water)

This is the best option because it assures you of an independent viewpoint. They can conduct detailed safety audits to make sure your organisation is delivering a safe and effective water management programme. They can also provide day-to-day input especially on problematic issues and near-misses.

It’s always best to identify a problem and resolve it before it becomes serious – particularly in the case of delivering safe hot and cold water supplies. Penalties for an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease or a similar scenario can be severe. It’s far better to avoid them to start with, and that’s far easier to do when you can rely on the experience and knowledge provided by an expert, experienced Authorising Engineer (Water).

Contact us today to talk more about how an independent AE (Water) can make your approach to water safety even more robust than it already is.

Expert Water Treatment and Water Safety Solutions

Water Treatment Services provide a comprehensive range of water treatment, wastewater treatment, consultancy, and water engineering solutions to support business owners and those responsible for the safe and efficient operation of water systems in the workplace.

Contact us today to learn how our water treatment specialists can help you manage your water systems, maintain regulatory compliance, and ensure safe, reliable performance.

With offices in London serving the South and South East England, Manchester (North West), Birmingham (Midlands), Bristol (South West England and Wales), Leeds (North and North East), and Glasgow (Scotland), supported by regional teams of highly trained technicians and engineers, we deliver specialist consultancy, water quality analysis, engineering support, and risk management solutions across the UK and internationally.

Contact us today to find out how our water treatment and water engineering solutions can support your organisation.