THE MAGAZINE FOR THE DRAINAGE, WATER & WASTEWATER INDUSTRIES
WATER PAGES
Part of WCS’s specialist SafeCare team, Holly assesses riskin domestic water systems in settings such as leisure centres, care homes and hotels. Through the WCS Group Training Academy, she is working towards being able to assess more complex systems such as hospitals and cooling towers.
She said: “I have a logical mind and enjoy identifying issues and problem solving. I particularly enjoy the unknown aspect of the job - you never know what you’re going to stumble across on site. My role is to help the customer achieve compliance rather than criticise what they’re currently doing.
“Some sites are straight forward; others are more complicated. I enjoy finding the root of these issues and helping the customer solve their issues.”
Holly studied at the University of Portsmouth, gaining a degree in marine biology, and a masters in coastal and marine resource management. Her first full-time position in water was at Kingfisher Environmental Services, which specialises in treatment services for industrial, commercial, health and leisure sectors, and is part of the WCS Group.
After two years, she transferred over to SafeCare to concentrate on risk assessing and to take advantage of the opportunities offered through the WCS Group Training Academy. She says she has always felt supported in her career development at WCS and would encourage young women with an interest in engineering to consider pursuing the same path.
“The best piece of advice I can give to young women looking at a career in engineering is don’t be afraid to be different. Although this is a male- dominated field, some of the best assessors I know are female. Don’t let the fact that your female hold you back, you’re more than capable
of doing this. All it takes is common sense, logic and great organisational skills.”
Creating proposals for wastewater treatment specialist WPL, which became part of WCS Environmental Engineering in January 2021, Mónica Rodrigues has a similarly vital role in protecting public health and ensuring environmental compliance.
She said: “I’m a natural problem-solver with a passion for the environment, water and wastewater treatment. Being an engineer enables me to create solutions which promote a continuous improvement in the relationship between environment and society. I love being part of returning clean wastewater to the natural water cycle.”
Mónica’s studies were based between Lisbon and the Netherlands, where she gained an environmental engineering degree.
She said: “I find the context of my role in society – protecting public health and the environment –
extremely satisfying. Of course, there are pressures and risks that come with innovation and problem solving but challenges are exciting, in my perspective, and allow the development of perseverance and resilience.”
Mónica would like to see engineering promoted to women as an exciting and rewarding career option from a young age.
“The educational system should teach and encourage these career choices and provide the opportunity to develop the relevant skills, particularly around creativity, ingenuity and problem-solving. Doing so would mean girls understand the potential impact they could have on society and feel inspired from the very beginning.
“Unfortunately, engineering can still be perceived as ‘man’s profession’ but diversity is fuel for innovation and extraordinary talent can be found in female engineers. If you find your passion in engineering, pursuing it will be your biggest reward.”
UK gears up for a ‘Digging Boom’ -but 85% of water sector still very vulnerable to asset strikes
The UK is set for a ‘digging boom’ this year, according to Digging up Britain
2021.The annual safe digging report by LSBUD reveals that companies and the public used lockdown to plan for almost one million projects, including house and road building, extensions, broadband installation and road
maintenance.These are getting started as the various restrictions lift, swelling the estimated four million excavation projects which routinely take place each year.
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This huge level of digging will leave the water sector incredibly vulnerable to asset strikes as, according to the report, just 15 percent of water companies share their asset information via the LSBUD portal. This means as much as 350,000 kilometres of networkare currently unprotected.
This is significant considering that 80 percent of gas companies and 70 percent of electricity providers share their network data and according to the report, 77 percent
of all digging work that takes place in the UK is now preceded by a thorough search for pipes and cables through the LSBUD portal. Over three million search enquiries were made for excavation projects on the collaborative portal in 2020, a record- breaking figure.
Richard Broome, Managing Director at LSBUD, comments: “It is wonderful to see the number of searches passing through the LSBUD portal increasing year on year. It
August 2021 | 43
Monica Rodrigues
Holly Waterman
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