National Water Hygiene Card

What You’ll Learn in the National Water Hygiene Course

The EUSR National Water Hygiene training course is typically divided into four main modules:

Module 1: The Importance of Water

✔️ Findings: You’ll understand why clean drinking water is so crucial as a food source and the severe implications of a world without safe water. This module emphasizes the scarcity of clean water and its fundamental role in a healthy society. It also touches on public expectations for clean water quality.

Module 2: Water as a Carrier of Disease

✔️ Findings: This module delves into how water can transmit diseases. You’ll explore historical cases that shaped our understanding of waterborne diseases and learn about various illnesses (e.g., typhoid, paratyphoid, dysentery, hepatitis) that can be contracted from contaminated water. This builds awareness of common pathogens like Legionella, E. coli, and Cryptosporidium.

Module 3: Potential Contamination and its Consequences

✔️ Findings: You’ll learn about the various potential sources of water contamination across the UK water industry. This includes understanding different types of contamination and the serious consequences that can arise if drinking water becomes compromised. It explores risk scenarios and real-world outbreak analyses to highlight the stakes.

Module 4: Preventing Contamination

✔️ Findings: This practical module focuses on the steps individuals can take to prevent contamination of the clean water supply. You’ll learn about broader actions to safeguard water quality, specific working practices for high-risk scenarios, and essential hygiene procedures like handwashing, the use of appropriate PPE, and cleaning/disinfecting tools. It also covers aspects like tank cleaning protocols, equipment selection, and safety precautions related to chemical handling.

Beyond the modules, the course and certification process also include:

Health Screening Questionnaire: All individuals must complete a standardized health screening questionnaire prior to training and assessment. This is crucial to ensure workers are not carrying certain waterborne illnesses (e.g., typhoid, jaundice, persistent diarrhoea).

Assessment: The training is followed by an official EUSR assessment, typically a multiple-choice test (often 25 or 40 questions, requiring an 80% pass mark).

Restricted Operations: The course specifically targets individuals who need to access “Restricted Operations” sites, such as service reservoirs, pumping stations, treatment works, wells, springs, boreholes, and those working on the network of water mains and service pipes.

Compliance & Best Practice: The scheme was developed in collaboration with all UK water companies and key industry stakeholders to ensure consistent standards and promote good water hygiene practices that align with the expectations of the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI).