CWQA Position Statement

Installation of Water Conditioning Equipment

CWQA Position:

The installation of water conditioning equipment is a specialized field and is best accomplished by the dealer of this equipment. While certain plumbing skills are required, specialized qualifications, skills, knowledge and experience unique to the water conditioning field are also required. The CWQA supports the growing practice to obtain special licensing of industry personnel to make installations of water conditioning equipment as a substitute for laws requiring Master Plumbers to make installations of industry equipment.

Summary:

In most areas of Canada, industry personnel are now permitted to install water conditioning equipment through special licensing programs with administrative authorities or the equipment is excluded by definition from plumbing ordinances. However, there is a definite trend to take away the right of industry personnel to install water conditioning equipment when local plumbing ordinances are being revised. In effect, this requires that licensed plumbers be hired to install water conditioning equipment.

Some plumbers may be qualified to install equipment, but licensing requirements do not include expertise in water conditioning equipment and therefore, plumbers may be less qualified than trained and experienced industry personnel. Thus, requiring licensed plumbers to do installation work may well reduce the protection of the health, welfare and safety of the public.

In the provinces which provide for the specialty licensing of water conditioning equipment installers, it has been shown that the programs are workable and effective in the maintenance of high quality installation work. The CWQA supports such programs because it is believed that it is better for the industry to be regulated under sound and workable programs than to be subjected to inconsistent or conflicting requirements in each local jurisdiction.