august 2013 | thameswater.co.uk
HEATWAVE Water demand rockets with temperature
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1,500 years’ service on luxury cruise Think like customers: time to step up Erin’s flying the flag in Scotland New driver points system explained Blisters after sewage works clean-up Feedback from Mogden open day
Editor’s column I missed last year’s raft race to be at the birth of my daughter, Ruby. The team sank after a minute, even with Olympic champion Andy Triggs-Hodge on board, and so everyone was a bit flat about entering again this year. Until Alex Betteridge stuck her oar in. She drummed up enthusiasm, got hold of a raft, escorted us to Primark for more bright, tight clothes and made it all happen. And we stormed it. I was the engine room at the back with navigator Andy Gingell, while Liam Curtis, ‘Shane’ Lowman, Helen Main and Alex all gave it everything to finish third. The fantastic event, but obviously not better than the day at the hospital, was captured superbly by star photographer Peter Cook. Check out the spread in the centre. Elsewhere this month, apart from all the water efficiency messages that follow the heatwave, we have all the faces on the Long Service River Cruise. Sorry, but some of the people on the Silver Sturgeon have worked for Thames Water a good few years longer than I have been alive. Amazing. Enjoy the sun, while it lasts. It’s probably gone already. Stuart stuart.white@thameswater.co.uk 2 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
HEATWAVE
brings 15% rise in water demand Demand for tap water across London and Thames Valley rockets after record July temperatures BY SIMON EVANS
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ince the mercury hit 30 degrees Celsius, Thames Water’s nine million customers have been cooling off with around 400 million litres a day more than the 2.6 billion they usually get through. The additional water being used is enough to fill 160 Olympic swimming pools every day. Demand for water has risen by 300 million litres a day in London and 100 million litres a day across the Thames Valley. While groundwater, rivers and reservoirs are full of water following England’s wettest-ever year, the current increase in demand has led to the company increasing output of water at its 100 treatment works. Jerry White, head of water for Thames Water, said: “While we are currently a million miles away from a drought, our treatment works are being cranked up a notch to keep pace with the spikes in demand. “Peak periods are first thing in the morning when people are getting washed ready for work and in the evenings when people
turn the sprinklers on. At peak times of day in certain areas of the region, demand for water has been increasing by between 20% and 50%. “It’s like when a sale opens on Oxford Street: there’s plenty of stock but lots more people are trying to go through the door at the same time, so there can be a bit of a crush momentarily.”
“WHILE WE ARE A MILLION MILES AWAY FROM A DROUGHT, OUR TREATMENT WORKS ARE BEING CRANKED UP A NOTCH TO KEEP PACE WITH THE SPIKES IN DEMAND” Thames Water offers customers and staff a number of free water-saving products, available to order on the website: showertimers, shower heads, tap inserts, and toilet save-a-flush devices. On sale for water-efficiency enthusiasts are: water butts, solar-powered Irrigatia plant irrigation systems and Wowshine waterless car-washing kits. Jerry added: “The topsy-turvy British weather doesn’t disappoint. We’ve just emerged from some of the wettest weather we’ve ever had into the longest heatwave for four years.” See the back page for more tips for saving water in the garden, plus news from the Blenheim Palace Flower Show on page 22.
Head of reward Rachael Hollings cools off during the heatwave at the raft race. More action from the big day from page 11
Port of London Authority at Beckton in July
TUNNEL CHALKS-UP
one million tonnes Port of London Authority representatives visit Beckton to mark environmentallyfriendly river-transport milestone BY LOUISA FARLA
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hames Water’s Lee Tunnel is celebrating one million tonnes of spoil removed by boat since the beginning of the project. The spoil comes from excavating both the tunnel – just over half way through construction – and the three 70 to 80 metre deep shafts at Beckton. By using the river, the project has eliminated the need for 60,000 plus truck movements – and the resulting environmental and noise issues on London’s busy roads. Beckton is ideally situated for using the river for ‘muckaway’ (spoil removal) as there are no tidal restrictions and the project has been able to make use of an existing jetty structure. The boats are chartered by S Walsh and Sons and hold up to 2,100 tonnes of material. Once loaded, they head to either Northfleet, Kent where they are creating a flood defence bund for a housing development, or Mucking and Pitsea in Essex where it is being used to
cap areas of landfill to create green space. James Trimmer, head of planning and partnerships at the Port of London Authority said: “This ‘million-tonne’ milestone is the result of commitment by all parties to a sustainable solution for transporting this spoil. “We have worked closely with Thames Water, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and operators to make sure the river and wharves can cope with the increased traffic and supply the labour to support the effort, which is great news for Londoners.” Nick Butler, Thames Water’s construction manager on the Lee Tunnel, added: “When we were planning the Lee Tunnel, many people
“MILESTONE IS THE RESULT OF COMMITMENT BY ALL PARTIES TO A SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION FOR TRANSPORTING THIS SPOIL” said you couldn’t remove it [spoil] by boat and that we’d have to stick to using trucks. “But we knew the river would be a much quieter, environmentally-friendly way so we were determined to find a solution. In the end it was a matter of finding the right organisations and technology to negotiate the challenges involved with moving such a large amount of spoil by river. The result is that very few people know about the massive muckaway project.”
The challenge was how to reduce the moisture content in the spoil to a level that was acceptable for safe and efficient river transportation. When the spoil is excavated from the tunnel it is in a liquid form called slurry, a similar consistency to single cream containing grit and crushed flint. To use the boats this had to be reduced down to around 25 per cent moisture content using filter press technology. The slurry is first passed through a series of sieves and screens to remove any particles bigger than fine sand. It is then pumped into one of 12 large filter presses where excess water is squeezed out, leaving a ‘filter cake’ that is similar to stiff modelling clay. The £635m Lee Tunnel is a massive 6.9 kilometre long sewer pipe running from Beckton to Abbey Mills. It will prevent 16 million tonnes of sewage and rainwater overflowing into the River Lee each year by transferring it to Beckton sewage works for treatment.
Excess water is squeezed using www.thameswater.co.uk august 3 ses filter| pres these2013
Pictures by Stewart Turkington
long service
RED CARPET
for company stalwarts Champagne and fine-dining on plush Thames cruise for longest-serving employees BY RORY BROUGHAL
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ifty of Thames Water’s longest serving employees celebrated their incredible careers on a luxury river cruise in London. The company stalwarts joined the Executive team, including Martin Baggs, and senior managers to sip Champagne on the Thames on Saturday, July 13. The annual voyage takes pampered guests on a fourhour trip down the iconic river and through the city these loyal people have been working to serve over the 4 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
course of their long careers. Operations director Bob Collington said on board the Silver Sturgeon, a top class river yacht: “The red carpet is really rolled out for these guests and so it should be after such dedication to one company. I’ve been working here for 24 years and I feel like a junior compared to some of these guys.” Rose Kiln Court-based technical assurance engineer Peter Glass, with 39 years service, added: “It was a fantastic evening. The Silver Sturgeon is a wonderful venue for such an occasion and the views were fantastic. It was an occasion that we’ll always fondly remember.” Typically, guests are on the boat to celebrate their 30 and 40 years’ service. But as this event is only in Carole and Neil Murray
its fifth year, there is still a number of staff who have been working in the company for longer still booking onto the cruise. The longest serving guests this year were retiree Paddy Archer (47 years), Peter Wilson and Long Reach’s technical lead Colin Pickersgill (both 48 years) – who started working for the Metropolitan Water Board in 1965.
“IT WAS AN OCCASION THAT WE’LL ALWAYS FONDLY REMEMBER” The cruise starts near Westminster Bridge and heads along the Thames, past the barrier and Beckton sewage works before circling back into the city. On board, staff, who can each bring a guest, are treated to a five-course meal and fine wine, and are presented with a silver carriage clock and chocolates as a memento of their dedication to the company. If you think you should have received a long service river cruise invitation, email rory.broughal@thameswater.co.uk.
All the guests on board the Silver Sturgeon
Nick Sumption hosted table four
Harish and Mistry
How many years? The cruisers have given a total of 1,476 years’ service to Thames Water. They are: Adrian Bone 31 Alf Pearce 40 Alf Taylor 40 Andrew Peattie 36 Anthony Parsons 32 Barry Hearn 40 Cass Shorter 39 Chris Maze 29 Chris Ralph 30 Chris Lambton 30 Colin Pickersgill 48 David Roberts 40 Derrick Mitchell 40 Dominique Prager 30 Frederick Emery 37 Graham Baldwin 31 Harish Mistry 30 Henry Dziedzicki 30 Jeffrey Saunders 30 Jim Jenkins 30 Keith Eells 40 Keith Golledge 40 Mark Brambleby 30 Mark Taylor 30 Neil Murray 30 Neil Rice 40 Paddy Archer 47 Paul Huckin 40 Peter Cokell 46 Peter Glass 39 Peter Wilson 48 Richard Harrington 40 Richard Potticary 38 Rob Keen 30 Santokh Martharu 30 Stephen Feely 34 Stephen Lewis 30 Steve Spurling 41 Tony Jones 31 Tony Roberts 38 Trevor Smith 41
Chris Maze and Ann Duech
Alf and Christine Pearce with Fredrick and Paula Emery Martin Baggs thanked everyone for their “loyalty and dedication”
Mark and Karen Brambleby, Carol and Tony Jones, Julia Brennan and Adrian Bone
Helen and Rob Keen
metering
Pictures by Stewart Turkington
Subhas Bairy saves cash using a water butt
METER ME Save water, save money
How switching to a meter saved two families nearly £200 each. Is now the time for us all to start leading by example? BY BECKY JOHNSON
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s you’re no doubt aware, water supplies in this region are seriously stretched. This situation will only get more difficult as the population grows and climate changes – bringing less summer
Keen gardeners ‘saved £178’ Wipro’s SUBHAS BAIRY, who is based in Clearwater Court, and his family of four from Reading previously paid £542 a year for their water. Subhas said: “We always try to do as much as we can to save water. My wife and I are keen gardeners so we have a water butt, and we also took advantage of the free watersaving devices, including the showerhead. We thought we would benefit from a meter and we did.” Subhas saw his bill go down to £364. 6 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
rainfall and increasing the likelihood of drought. We now use twice as much water as we did 25 years ago. On top of this, people in London use far more water than other parts of the UK – an average of 167 litres per day, as opposed to 146 litres for everyone else. We really need to all play our part in reining this back. Our forecasts show that if we were to do nothing to reduce demand and continued as we are, by 2020 there will be a shortfall in the amount of water available of 125 million litres per day, which trebles to 367 million litres by 2040 – equivalent to the water needed by two million people. We need your help to not only spread the message on the importance of saving water, but to understand the role that water meters play in reducing demand. Not only do meters put you in control of your bill as you can track what you’re using and saving water will save you money, but people with meters tend to use around 12% less water on average. In areas where Thames Water install
Karen Mears puts a limit on shower time
Family ‘saved £186’ Thames Water finance manager RICHARD MEARS and his family of five from Guildford consider themselves average water users. Richard’s wife Karen said: “I don’t water the garden, but I have teenagers so encourage them not to spend too long in the shower.” They worked out that they could save money on a meter and saw their bill go down from £752 to £566. Want to see if you could benefit from a meter? Go to www.thameswater.co.uk/ meter and let Source know how you get on. smart meters, they also play a huge role in helping find and fix leaks. Smart meters send the company automatic readings every 15 minutes. If it records that water is continually going through the meter – even at night time, this is a good indication of a leak. Leaks on customers’ pipes beneath gardens and drives account for a quarter of the leakage figure reported annually to Ofwat. See the back cover for more water-saving tips and offers this summer
news
Think like customers Get obsessed or go overboard – it’s time to step up BY STUART WHITE
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hames Water is a customer service business, not an engineering, finance or regulatory business. That is the clear message ahead of this month’s blanket Customer Service Step-up and why everyone working for or on behalf of the company is being asked to ‘think like customers’ and ‘go overboard’ or ‘get obsessed’ to make things better. “Our brand says that our customers should be at the heart of everything we do,” said customer service director Natalie Beckerman. “So let’s all think like customers.
“We are all united by our 14 million customers and we all work in customer service. It will take all of us to step up to make a difference.” The ‘step-up’ follows hot on the heels of the successful Health and Safety Stand Down. Teams are being asked to spend a minimum of 30 minutes discussing customer service and to carry out the relevant tasks in the briefing packs, which are now with all managers. “We are dedicating three weeks out of the next quarter to this ‘step-up’, and asking everybody to ‘think like customers’ – both internal and external,” Natalie added. “It may not be your job to serve a customer directly, but it is your job to serve someone who does. If we improve the way we serve one another, ultimately we’ll improve the way we serve our customers. This is why we are
introducing this Customer Service Step-up.” Natalie adds that successful companies consistently deliver great customer service, and they enjoy success because they know exactly who their customers are, how they want to be treated and do everything possible to satisfy them. “By developing our own set of customer must-dos and challenging ourselves and each other to think about how our everyday actions impact our customers, we’ll improve the service we provide.” ‘Go overboard’ or ‘Get obsessed’: We want your views on which tagline works best. The aim is to convey the need for all of us to have customers’ needs at the forefront of our minds. Email your preference to cscommunications.cscommunications@ thameswater.co.uk
Smart moves for smart phones Customers are now finding it easier surfing the Thames Water website on their smart phones after the latest upgrade. After some shrewd work by a team split across customer experience, IS, Wipro and digital communications, customers can now pay a bill, submit a meter reading and also find out the latest network incidents on the move.
“NOW THEY ARE SPECIFICALLY OPTIMISED FOR TOUCH SCREEN SMART PHONES AND THEIR DIFFERENT SCREEN SIZES” “These services have always been available on the main website but now they are specifically optimised for touch screen smart phones and their different screen sizes,” explains Jon Clutton, the new digital communications manager. “Around 20 per cent of our website visitors come from mobile phones and tablets, and that’s steadily rising year-on-year. This is something we’re very much aware of, so we need to ensure we keep up with the latest trends and we’re offering the best experience. “This project was a great collaborative effort, delivered on time and budget.”
The team behind the recent upgrade www.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 7
Firefighters at Greenford Road after the big burst
A west London couple told the Evening Standard how they tried in vain to stop water from a burst main flooding their newly-bought home. Nallely and Matthew Coulam, of Greenford Road, Greenford, were flooded shortly after 7am on Monday, July 8, as they prepared to leave for work. “We managed to save a few things
New home ‘ruined’
but most of it is ruined,” Mrs Coulam said. “Even the fridge was floating. I’m trying not to think about it. We are just trying to hold it together. We wanted to get the car the fill it with stuff, but within two minutes it went from a little water to two, three feet.
It just rushed in.” A four feet-wide water pipe had burst on Greenford Road at 7.15am, flooding 16 homes. This affected the pressure through people’s taps across the wider area, although normal service was resumed from
1pm as teams re-routed water from other parts of the network. A company spokesman said: “We are very sorry for the inconvenience this has caused, and in particular for the distress caused to people who have been flooded. The insurance process is under way to get people’s homes and lives back to normal as soon as possible.”
ENERGY SAVINGS help keep bills down Source gets an update from GERARD LYDEN on Thames Water’s renewable energy plans and schemes What are the company’s renewable energy usage targets? Our aim is to renewably self-generate 20 per cent of our annual energy requirements by 2015. Currently, 12.5% is generated using renewables. Is having a combination of sources – wind, solar, THP – the best way to achieve this? Having a good mix of sources generally makes sense in business and particularly for energy. The bulk of our generation is tied to our core processes – generating power from waste – and as a multi-site organisation we also have opportunities for other renewables such as 8 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
wind and photovoltaics (solar) wherever these can pay for themselves.
continue to go up faster than inflation, so we are looking to develop further self-generation to protect us and our customers against this. This means improving the efficiency of our existing generation as well as putting in new generation schemes. We have a good track record working with specialist players and also through developing generation schemes directly ourselves. With a frequently changing incentive framework we’re not wedded to a one size fits all solution. We will use the delivery models and technologies that make the most economic sense for each new opportunity.
Why has renewable energy become so important to the sector? We currently produce enough renewable electricity to run a city the size of Oxford and are investing hundreds of millions of pounds to help us achieve our target by 2015. This investment is good for the environment, our business and our customers. For as well as being environmentally friendly, generating energy from waste also reduces our running costs by protecting us from the price fluctuations of the mainstream, The aim is to renewably self-gene non-renewable energy markets, rate 20 per cent of annual energy requirements by bringing savings that help to 2015 keep customers’ bills down. What are Thames Water’s plans and developments for the future in this area? We expect energy prices to
BOREHOLE with media manager Simon Evans
Each month BH drills down on the news and issues affecting Britain’s biggest water firm
Use use water wisely wisely
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ho says something, and when they say it, is as important as what it is they’re saying. Allow BH to explain. Back in April we were asked for a progress update by the Press Association news wire exactly one year on from the start of the 2012 hosepipe ban. We said: “The past year has been England’s rainiest, leaving our natural underground storage basins brim full and set to sustain river flows throughout the year – a very different picture from last April. While water use restrictions this year are highly unlikely, we would ask everyone to continue using water wisely.” The Daily Express saw this and ran the front-page headline: “Outrage at new drought alert: Water firms are forcing cut back despite wettest year.” Stretching it a bit? Yes, perhaps, but the lesson for BH was that, after a year of record rain, the Express decided its readers were no longer in the mood to be told what
A shiny (shower) head free of charge. Why wouldn’t you?
to do by a water firm. We noted this in the log. Last month the Energy Saving Trust got national coverage telling how Brits could save a total of £215m a year by taking shorter showers and not overfilling kettles. “Use water wisely,” said EST. The press lapped it up.
The reason? Papers were happy to hear this from someone other than a water firm. With that in mind, when things went scorchio, we took pains to avoid lecturing people. Demand for water has risen 15% since the heatwave began, our press release said. After a muscular quote from
Water pipe bursts all by itself
Damp squib Britain faces a decade of soggy summers, media roared on June 19. “These predictions turned out to be damp squib,” a sweaty Fleet Street hack panted three weeks later as the mercury hit 30°C.
Funny how two organisations put a very different spin on things. Take what happened on July 9: Number 10 Downing Street and the Houses of Parliament were among those whose water supplies were cut off after gas contractors dug through a big main on Birdcage Walk in central London, the London Evening Standard reported. Britain’s biggest water firm said: “Contractors working for another utility mistakenly chopped through an 18 inch-wide water main under
Birdcage Walk. This flooded the carriageway and interrupted water supplies to many of our customers in the area.” Meanwhile a spokesman for a gas utility, which, in the interests of discretion BH will not name, said: “Our engineers are currently on site at Buckingham Gate and Birdcage Walk. We were called there following a report of a gas escape. While we were digging in the road to locate and repair the gas escape a water main burst.” These pipes have got a mind of their own.
Twitter on fire
@thameswater went into mention meltdown at the en d of July as customers suffered with water pressure issues. Thos e facing no water after burst pip es were also more vocal than no rmal as they struggled to cope in the heat. • Water pressure ha s dropped so much my show er is running hot when it’s set to cold. Thames Water ple ase fix! • Third night on th e trot and water pressure go ne AGAIN! Absolutely disgrac eful. Why on earth can’t it just be fixed? • That’s rubbish. Yo u would hope the network could cope with a few people turning on their sprinklers!!
Jerry ‘Big Jez’ White on “cranking up our treatment works to keep pace with spikes in demand” we came in with a delicate call to action: “With all this water being used, it is perhaps a good time to remember that we have masses of free water-saving products available to order on our website.” Next day in the Daily Telegraph four other water companies were accused of “rationing water”. The basis for this? They told people to “use water wisely”. Thames Water, however, was notably absent from this group of so-called water-rationers. Instead there was Big Jez manfully telling the nation how he doing his damnedest to keep taps running. The moral of the story? Use use water wisely wisely. How the media works Britain is currently in the grip of the “longest heatwave for four years”, the Times reported on July 18 – while the Press Association news wire called it the “first heatwave for seven years”.
Hosepipe ban imposed After 10 days of sunny weather folks in Galway and South Tipperary have been banned from using hosepipes by their council-run water suppliers, the Irish Independent reported.
PM nod for tunnel The Prime Minister “suggested he was supportive” of plans to build London’s supersewer, the Press Association reported after DC told the Commons: “There is merit in the Thames tunnel proposal.” www.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 9
commercial Erin Matthews is based in Edinburgh, but will be travelling around Scotland to meet potential customers
Welcome back to Scotland Thames Water Commercial Services (TWCS) now has its first employee north of the border, ERIN MATTHEWS I moved to Edinburgh at the beginning of July to start my new role as commercial sales manager for Scotland. We were granted a licence to operate in the retail market in Scotland back in September 2012 and have been successful in landing a couple of business customers, including Jurys Inn hotels, with more in the pipeline.
“THE SCOTS MAY HAVE A STRONG SENSE OF PATRIOTISM BUT THEY ARE ALSO SAVVY BUSINESS PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR A GOOD DEAL” With more appealing margins in the Scottish market, director Piers Clark and the TWCS team felt it was time to have a physical presence in Scotland, where I grew up. And I was proud to get the job. When I started working for Thames Water as a graduate in 2011, I never imagined that it would take me back up to Scotland. I am working from home and will be 10 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
and schools throughout the country. travelling around Scotland to meet with Since I’ve moved up a lot of people have potential customers. Currently, on a dayasked whether I think Scottish companies to-day basis I am identifying and calling will actually consider switching to an English businesses, attending events to get leads, retailer. My answer every time is ‘yes’! The creating marketing plans and finding ways Scots may have a strong sense of patriotism to raise awareness about competition in the but they are also savvy business people who water industry. are always looking for a good deal – if TWCS My new role presents a great opportunity to raise awareness can save them money and improve their service they will not let the opportunity pass by. here about commercial Not only do we think we can save them customers having a choice money on their bill but we also have of retailer and, as a result, products and services we can offer to help how they could make a saving on their water and businesses become more efficient and sustainable in their water use. waste bills. Let’s hope I am right and that the Scots I am excited for the welcome TWCS with open arms. challenge and with the If they do, I look forward to support of a dedicated celebrating with team based in Reading I Irn-Bru and a am hoping we can develop deep-fried strong partnerships with Mars Bar. Scottish businesses who choose to switch to TWCS. The Scottish If you have any Government is keen questions about the for there to be increased market or know of competition in the business customers who market and our aim is to have shown an interest become one of the main in switching their competitors. We plan water/waste retailer to participate in the please contact Erin who Edinburgh-based Erin tender for the Scottish will be happy to help Matthews loves living in Government contract or email enquiries@ such a vibrant city which includes hospitals thamescommercial.co.uk
Chewbacca and Darth Vader working together
tes
PBA A New Hope clocked 16.56 minu to win the race
The Force is strong with these ones
MWH Strikes Back: ‘Aren’t you a little tall for a Stormtrooper?’ www.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 11
IS Superstars of Wrestling won best raft
‘WHAT A PIEC Hand-crafted STAR RAFTS have a blast on the river as 28 styled-up teams raise thousands for WaterAid BY STUART WHITE
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Star Wars-inspired band of rebel consultants powered to victory in the 17th annual Thames Water Raft Race. The force was with winners Peter Brett Associates’ A New Hope as 28 ‘Star’ teams battled it out on the famous river in Reading on July 11. Thames Water crews White Star Line RMS Titanic, made up of the old energy and carbon team, were close behind in second while the colourful communications team’s Starburst shocked everyone by rocketing over the line in third place. The hugely popular event, which drew a big crowd to the riverbank and Caversham Bridge, has so far raised almost £30,000 for WaterAid.
the least sporting behaviour to The Death Star (Thames Water’s ex-graduates) and most money raised to The Emerald Star (Murphy) with a superb £6,000 donation. The innovation raft was loaded with two water cannons and the IS Superstars of Wrestling had a miniature ring attached to two dinghys as once again Thames Water staff and contractors went to great lengths to put on a real spectacle. Chief executive Martin Baggs thanked everyone for supporting the event, especially main sponsors Black & Veatch, GBM, CH2M HILL and Tamesis, as well as the army of organisers for making it all happen. “It was a huge success Ace compere Gary Knight and great evening,” he said.
“That’s the third year in a row we’ve come second,” the Titanic’s Darrell Lansdell, an energy analyst, moaned afterwards. “The weather was great which made for a good atmosphere and overall we are happy as we had a few problems with the raft. “It is a good event, especially for team-building, and all for a good cause. We’ve raised £5,600 so are really pleased with that, especially considering we only decided to enter a month before.”
“THERE WAS A GREAT ATMOSPHERE” Other prizes awarded on the sunny summer evening included best fancy dress to the Super Trantio brothers (Trant construction),
Thames Tideway Tunnel came fifth
Innovation were all about spraying 12 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
Starburst rocketed to third
Pictures by Peter Cook and Reading Post
ECE OF JUNK’
Thames Water’s Eurostar team
Katie Mart had space for all these pints
Rocking out on the river
WaterAid’s Jess Sutton and Harriet De Bene
Super Trantio Brothers won best fancy dress
Top fundraisers Murphy www.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 13
Several team members, pictured here go-karting, were shortlisted in the Employee Recognition Awards for their work on the Crossrail project
Work hard, play hard ASH SHARMA introduces the central water network optimisation team – strong advocates of ‘letting their hair down’ after a busy day
“OUR MOST RECENT Q12 SURVEY SCORE WAS AN ENCOURAGING 4.65, WHICH I PUT DOWN TO STRONG TEAM MORALE, FOCUS ON HEALTH AND SAFETY AND HARD WORK FROM EVERYBODY”
and Guildford, and have many high profile customers, including the Queen, on our books. Although the Olympics and drought are in the past, we’re now focusing on the mammoth task of hitting this year’s leakage target following a prolonged winter, supporting the water supply and demand event, and delivering a significant SIM score improvement. However, it’s not all about work. This group believes in playing hard too – as shown here on a go-karting race day. Team evenings out and days for charity are often arranged so that everybody can let their hair down and form stronger bonds outside work. Our most recent Q12 survey score was an encouraging 4.65, which I put down to strong team morale, focus on health and safety and hard work from everybody. Nothing gives me more pride than seeing this team stepping up to the mark every day and supporting one another, to provide the best customer service possible. So, next time you see Andy Murray serving at Wimbledon or David Cameron addressing the world at Downing Street, remember all the Thames Water staff working quietly in the background to ensure London goes about its business as normal.
If this wasn’t a big enough challenge, we had to shut five out of 10 major pipes running along the busy road, including one 36-inch and four 30-inch pipes. This required major network reconfiguration to maintain supply to thousands of customers in London. This is a high profile example of just one of the many daily tests faced by the central water network optimisation team of 13 based at Ashford Common. We cover north west and south west London
Reducing the low pressure count from 2,742 properties down to zero in 2012/13 wasn’t an easy feat. The committed team members worked tirelessly over the last weekend of the year, amid snow, to ensure Thames Water successfully met its regulatory target. The team also achieved 90 per cent district metered area availability in May, the highest ever figure, ensuring the company can monitor customer usage and network leakage better than ever.
“If the Regent Street repair was complicated, wait until I show you the photos from this morning.” The words of engineer Nick Fox following an urgent site meeting at Notting Hill Gate at the start of the big leak. He was right – this was complicated. The 30-inch pipe burst in Notting Hill Gate in April caused water to leak onto the London Underground line, and we then discovered further leaks, a large gas pipe sitting on top of the burst and massive voids underneath.
14 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
Fresh approach to employee engagement Thames Water is taking a fresh look at how it supports employee engagement and runs the annual employee survey. Feedback received on the recent Executive Roadshow suggested there were more effective and efficient ways to support employee engagement than Gallup’s Q12 survey – which has now been axed. HR director Janet Burr said: “Employee engagement continues to be critical to Thames Water and the Executive team. It is important we continue to drive and promote activities across the company and support managers to maintain and improve engagement levels in their teams.” More details on further plans will be available once confirmed in the coming months, although it has already been decided to run the Executive Roadshow twice a year, with the next one set for January. See the portal for the full response to all the points raised at the Executive Roadshow.
Janet Burr confirmed the Executive Roadshow will now run twice a year
news
Points prevent prangs Introducing the driver behaviour points system – to stay safe on the roads BY GEORGIE WILKINSON
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hames Water’s new supportive driver behaviour points system came into effect this month to address the growing number of unwanted incidents taking place on the road. Those driving company vehicles now receive points when specific incidents and shortfalls, listed and scored according to seriousness on the purpose-built system shown below, take place.
“UNWANTED DRIVING INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN RAPIDLY RISING – THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND WE MUST ACT” Fleet manager Michelle Nasr said it has been introduced to support ‘at risk’ drivers and remind them of the importance of following company safety procedures.
Tyres must be replaced before they wear below the legal limit
Points are allocated to drivers as follows: • vehicle collision/incident – driver fault, 10 points • expiry of permit to drive (without a new copy in place), 10 pts • tyres replaced below legal limit, 5 pts • tyres damaged, 5 pts • avoidable maintenance, 5 pts • online driver assessment course not completed within one month of requesting, 5 pts • notice of intended prosecution, 2 pts (+ any points on licence) • fixed penalty, 1 pt
“Yet another brilliant group from Thames Water,” said London Wetland Centre’s David Cowmeadow
Time to give? New community investment coordinator Neeti Bindra, who took over from Karen Rudkin last month, is bringing fresh energy to Thames Water’s volunteering programme. She has lined-up Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust planting days at Queen Elizabeth’s Girls’ School in Barnet in early September, Network Challenges in Reading, and is also putting names forward for a Time Banks scheme in Swindon – where people trade skills for free to help each other out.
“We don’t want anyone to be involved in an incident or be injured as a result,” she said, “so this is our way of identifying risk early and providing support to stop repeats in the future.” Individuals hold onto their points for 12 months from date of allocation, and will be given support from their managers and through training to help prevent future unwanted incidents. Karl Simons, head of safety, health and wellbeing, fully endorses the scheme which helps achieve the company’s triple zero vision every day. He said: “The number of driving incidents has been rapidly rising and with it the number of our people being injured on the roads. This is totally unacceptable and we must act. “The points scheme is just one part of our driving safely programme, which provides a great solution to trigger management support through early intervention, helping us all to prevent future incidents occurring.” Fleet are keen to come to your team meetings and talk to you in more detail about the scheme during August and September. If you’d like them to attend please call ext. 88583. For more information on the scheme visit the fleet portal pages.
Golden boys This trio are glowing with pride after being awarded the Gold Award from the City of London for the work they do for Thames Water. Contractor supervisor Lee Cooper, and network service technicians Terry Jones and Jeff Day collected the honour last month. Field Operations manager Ann Seach said: “It was for their professional and courteous manner and the effort they put into ensuring a speedy response to any issues in London.” Terry and Jeff are experts when it comes to confined spaces working. This enables them to offer advice and assistance to repair gangs to establish an efficient, yet safe way of carrying out repairs. Ann added: “Their health and safety awareness is impeccable and they always ensure the wellbeing of any people entering the confined space as well as the general public who may be passing.”
Pictured here is the water quality and compliance team who took part in a volunteering day on June 27 at London Wetland Centre. “It was a good reminder of what a great team I work for and also to find out about the support Thames provides for conservation,” said manager Samantha Timms. Email neeti.bindra@thameswater.co.uk or call 07747 645509 to get involved. er, Terry Jones and Jeff Day Lee Coopwww.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 15
volunteering
Piers Clark and Karl Simons, front, were delighted by the response
‘The witches of Farnham’
Farnham transformed
BY CLEAN-UP ARMY Dirty, disgusting and monotonous – but we don’t care
“Everyone should do this, at least once a year”
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clean-up team armed with brushes, bags, wheelbarrows and spades of energy transformed Farnham sewage works last month. Head of safety, health and wellbeing Karl Simons was blown away by the effort of the Changing Rooms-inspired volunteers who were rounded-up to rejuvenate the tired looking site. “I was staggered to see the energy and effort put in to all the tasks we were assigned by the operations team,” he said, “regardless of how dirty, disgusting or monotonous they were.
“I WAS STAGGERED TO SEE THE ENERGY AND EFFORT PUT IN TO ALL THE TASKS” “It was an extremely successful event. We all worked so hard – I even have a blister.” The event was organised following a recent visit to the Surrey site by Karl Simons and Commercial director Piers Clark. Both recruited 40 willing volunteers from within their teams to directly work for the Farnham operational team for the day. Piers said: “There is no better way of reminding yourself exactly what this great business is all about than by spending a day working hard on a real site, resolving real 16 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
operational issues. “Everyone should do this, at least once a year. I will certainly be back for more, along with my team.” Karl added: “There are times when we in support services can do much, much more to support our operational teams rather than just leave a list of actions.” The day was captured on camera here by hotshot Sarah Morphew. If you and your team want to get involved in volunteering Gordon Rickards, events email neeti.bindra@ just chilling thameswater.co.uk.
Chris Poole puts his back into it
Dapper CRAIG PEZET is part of the trade effluent team that generates £13.5 million a year and helps prevent sewer collapses and blockages
Craig Pezet says “bow ties are cool” and has five
BY STUART WHITE
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e’s based on a sewage works, but that doesn’t stop trade effluent technologist Craig Pezet dressing sartorially-sound for his job. The 29-year-old regularly wears a bow tie to the Crossness office, and dons a head-turning white suit and shoes for Christmas. Craig, who lives in Greenhive, was runnerup in the supportive category at this year’s Employee Recognition Awards and insists “bow ties are cool”. “I wear what I like to wear,” he said. “I wear bow ties, regular ties and occasionally no tie at all. And if it is a very special occasion like Christmas I wear a white suit.” Craig joined Thames Water’s now-closed Millharbour laboratories straight from Greenwich University nine years ago and has worked in the trade effluent team at Crossness, south east
“WE TELL THE BIG FACTORIES WHAT THEY CAN AND CAN’T PUT IN THE SEWER, AND THEN ISSUE A CONSENT LICENCE” London, for more than four years. He and the team make sure industrial waste entering the foul sewerage network is licenced to help prevent structural damage and blockages, and trouble at the treatment works further down the line. “People can’t just chuck anything down the sewer,” he said. “We deal with industrial waste and go to the sites to see what they want to dispose of. We tell them what they can and can’t do and then issue a consent licence. “It completely varies what they want to put down. There are hundreds and thousands of different things it could be. “We speak with multinational pharmaceutical companies, the Ministry of Defence, big factories and even small businesses like electroplaters and vehicle washes. We arrange to have samples taken to monitor if they are sticking to the licence. Sometimes we will have to prosecute if
SEWER POLICE
they break the agreement.” Trade effluent manager Tony McHattie’s team of 23 generate £13.5m for the business every year. They are divided into three sub teams, one for each area (east, central and west), and consist of a team leader, investigational technologist and two trade effluent technologists. Tony had nominated Craig, who covers the central patch that stretches roughly from Crawley to Alton, for an Employee Recognition Award for his sterling work following a pollution
incident at the River Lambourn in Hoddesdon – a site of specific scientific interest. “The team also provide scientific support and advice to operations,” Tony said. “On this occasion Craig made a 220 mile round trip on a Sunday knowing full well that he would not be paid for his time, and spent 12 hours working on the incident. “He helped provide thorough river quality data that was fundamental to supporting the successful outcome of this unfortunate incident just before Christmas.”
Davine intervention Water analyst Graham Davine won the £100 bundle of Amazon vouchers after having his say on Thames Water’s future. His name was randomly selected from the 155 employees who Golden Graham Davine
took part in the public consultation on the draft plans for 2015-2020. In total, the company received just over 1,000 responses in the consultation and feedback will help decide the proposals submitted to regulator Ofwat in early December. Meanwhile, sustainability awareness advisor Pavan Badesha
and group reporting manager Sarah Perry were joint winners in a competition among PR14 ambassadors to recruit the most employees. They each won a selection box from Hotel Chocolat and a £15 Amazon voucher. They persuaded 26 staff – 13 each – to have their say in the eightweek consultation, which ended on June 25. Environmental regulation manager Jonathan Westlake came third with a total of 10. www.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 17
From left, Patrick McColl, Yuen Young, Sam Simpkins, Stuart Greaves, Harshna Patel, Janice Callcut and Sheila McIntyre
First class service Source finds out more about the DOCUMENT HANDLING CENTRE, who always deliver!
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he post room team are an integral part of customer service. The 14strong group, based on the ground floor at Walnut Court in Swindon, are tasked with dealing with all the incoming and outgoing mail. Every month they process over 33,000 letters and allocate customer correspondence and enquiries to the relevant departments. In addition, they send 100,000 letters to customers and process 44,000 payments every month – representing over £10 million in revenue. This vital role ensures all customer account information is correct and up-to-date and gives the company sufficient funds to provide customers with the reliable service they expect. “We are not just a parochial team,” said Thames Water hosted its second Business Customer Forum last month. The event, held at the Kia Oval, was an opportunity to speak face-to-face with major customers, including Fullers, Tate & Lyle, London Underground and Sainsburys. Commecial director Piers Clark, deputy head of Thames Tideway Tunnel delivery Jatin Seejore, key account manager Eamonn Treanor and business planning manager Kevin Hayter all presented during the session. Customers received updates on service improvements, the price review and Thames Tideway Tunnel. Much of the discussions
18 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
manager Janice Callcut. “Our main purpose is to deal with all correspondence and any payments that come into the post room. “We constantly look beyond our own responsibilities, taking every opportunity to support other teams. It’s about knowing that behind every letter we read, every cheque we process, every payment allocated, there is a valuable customer who depends upon us to look after their interests and provide a reliable service.”
“BEHIND EVERY LETTER WE READ, EVERY CHEQUE WE PROCESS, EVERY PAYMENT ALLOCATED, THERE IS A VALUABLE CUSTOMER” Janice said her team, who are busiest on a Monday, aims to do “everything on day zero”. “Each team player is prepared to stay beyond their normal hours to get the last things completed,” she said. “Their absolute dedication and commitment ensures our work is completed
Insightful Business Customer Forum focussed around meter logger data and automatic meter reading technology – in particular, customers were keen to receive their logger data for analysis purposes. Customers also noted that the increase in water bills is dwarfed by that of some energy price rises. Other conversations were around the Thames Tideway Tunnel and wanting to know more detail about when prices rises
every day with no backlogs.” One of the biggest challenges, however, can be understanding the purpose of the thousands of letters received, as well as meeting the strict daily deadlines. “You can normally tell within a few paragraphs what the customer is saying and wants, and where it needs to go,” Janice added. “We do have times where you read the letter and you can have three or four differences of opinion. It can be difficult making a decision. “We also have to get letters printed and enclosed by 6.45pm ready for collection by TNT at 7pm every evening. All our cheques have to be processed by 3.30pm for the courier to collect at 3.45pm to take to the bank. “So we are up against time each day. If we have any system problems that can be a real setback and it puts a lot of pressure on me and the whole team.” The document handling centre was highly commended in the committed team category at this year’s Employee Recognition Awards ceremony.
would kick in. The next forum is scheduled for November 14 and is being opened to a larger number of customers. A spin-off event, the Industrial Business Customer Forum, is to be held on 4 October in the Thames Valley region. This is targeted specifically to large manufacturing and industrial businesses who have very different priorities to most other large nonhousehold customers. If you would like a copy of the slides presented to the group, or the minutes email laura.hall@thameswater.co.uk.
Meet the AMP6 alliance:
alliance
Each month Source will be getting to know one of the industry-leading members of the alliance that will deliver Thames Water’s construction projects between 2015 and 2020. IBM is the alliance’s technology and innovation partner
Graham Butler
Keith Wishart
BY HEATHER LEWIS-JONES
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e have the potential to make a significant impact on the British and global water industry. That is the view of Graham Butler, vice-president for energy and utilities, IBM Europe, after being named the alliance’s technology and innovation partner.
“THAMES WATER IS TAKING THE LEAD IN INNOVATING BY APPLYING BIG DATA ANALYTICS TO EXTRACT VERY PRECISE BUSINESS INSIGHTS” IBM has an extensive history of working with water companies around the world to transform the way water is managed, supplied and analysed. These projects are enhanced by research work taking place across their 12 laboratories in six continents. IBM will help Thames Water to gather and make sense of a wealth of information about its customers and assets. Some of the key areas they will be looking at are network optimisation (making sure the company is operating its network in the most efficient way possible), treatment
processes, energy reduction, reporting and development of appropriate IT platforms. IBM will also create innovative opportunities for improving customer service. This could include bringing the capability to analyse a range of social media channels like blogs and Twitter to create real-time public opinion snapshots that help to better understand customers, during delivery of the capital programme. For the first 18 months IBM will work with Thames Water and the alliance partners to create the AMP6 business plan and define the scope of technology and innovation services they will deliver in AMP6 and beyond. Jon Bentley, IBM alliance board member, said: “I’m incredibly proud and excited to be a part of this. There is ever more data available about all aspects of the world: from the natural environment, on the state of equipment, from business systems and processes and about our customers’ behaviours and preferences. It is all the more important that decisions are based on facts and data, and advances in technology are letting us do this. “Thames Water is taking the lead in innovating by applying big data analytics to extract very precise business insights. This will help to deliver better customer service as a result.” Keith Wishart, alliance core team leader for technology and innovation, added: “This is fantastic opportunity to deliver transformational change through innovation.”
Big night out The Employee Recognition Awards ceremony was another cracker. The Cobra flowed as those shortlisted for the prizes, as well as their nominees, celebrated on July 4 at Shehnai in Reading. Pictured here is Kyle
Crawford, far left, runnerup in the committed individual category, enjoying a beer with Neil Scott and Kyle Greggor. More details on next year’s awards scheme will be announced soon. www.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 19
news Food leftovers to help power Banbury BY CRAIG RANCE Food waste could soon be powering one of Thames Water’s largest sewage works as well as thousands of its customers’ homes nearby. A power plant, earmarked for Banbury sewage works, will produce 17,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable electricity – enough to run the entire works and more than 3,500 averagesized homes. Leftovers from restaurants and business will be digested in large tanks to produce methanerich biogas, which can be used to generate renewable heat and electricity. If the scheme goes ahead, power not used by Banbury sewage works will be pushed out to the national energy supply grid. Thames Water has written to local residents for their feedback on the 18-month project, before submitting a planning application in August. Piers Clark, commercial director, said: “This is a win-win project. We’re making renewable energy from a resource that would otherwise go to landfill. “The plant works like a giant stomach, with bacteria breaking down the food at around body temperature (38 degrees Celsius). “We’ll use this to create electricity to power the sewage works and local homes and top grade fertiliser to grow crops. It’s the smart thing to do and will make the food cycle more sustainable.” Once up and running the new power plant will make the Banbury works energy self-sufficient, producing all the electricity it needs from renewable sources. Around 30 per cent of the electricity produced will be used to power the sewage works and the surplus will be exported to the national grid. The ‘digested’ food waste material will be turned into a nutrient-rich fertiliser for use on local crops. The plant will be housed in an odour-controlled building and will use 40,000 tonnes of food every year that would normally go to landfill.
WaterAid Lottery It is a summer to remember for HJ Masters after scooping the WaterAid Lottery jackpot of £800 for the second time in two months. Runners-up in the monthly draw, each receiving £25, were: Brian Rosmus, Phil Bailey, Caroline Thompson, Ant Tyler, Lawrence Gosden, William Ransford, Kirsty Telling, Robert Hillstead, J Hay, Mark Landells, Steve Rock, RE Turner, Harshad Mistry, David Crisp, Trudy Maddock, Julian Towills, MD Martin, BJ Kay, Dean Mason, PE Bishop, KJ McAllan, Suzanne Aldridge and Melvin Calder. Shares in the lottery cost £1 each, and you can have as many as you like. Contact Ginika Okoye for more information and to sign up. 20 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
Available. Unavailable Aleksandra Rzewuska, Daniela Castegnaro, Natasha Sagoo and Nicola Hall with manager James Lamb. Not pictured, Charlotte Ross and Corinne Clare
The DEMAND AND SCHEDULING administrators keep Thames Water’s engineers in and out of work
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he six-strong team of demand and scheduling administrators manage the availability of Thames Water’s engineers. Without them there would be chaos and the company would fall well short on its promises to customers. The team support the schedulers to ensure Click Gantt – the auto-scheduling tool introduced as part of the WAMI project – is displaying the correct working hours and accurate availability of 1,246 engineers. Unavailability can be booked in up to 12 months in advance, and the Kemble Courtbased team are live from 7am to 7pm. Out of hours cover is provided by the 24/7 scheduler in control.
“WE HAVE TO BE ON OUR GAME EVERY DAY, MAKING SURE ALL THE INFORMATION IS ACCURATE” The team look after engineers working in a number of different departments, including maintenance, production, networks, developer services and the trunk main teams. If the system and team didn’t function efficiently, engineers would be scheduled work in non-work time and, simply, the company would fail its service level agreements. “We have to be on our game every day,” said team manager James Lamb. “It is not just where the engineers are, it is when they are
working and not working. We need to make sure all the information is accurate. “If the system isn’t updated with correct working hours and unavailability it would not be able to schedule effectively, jobs would be scheduled to engineers in non-working time and we would fail our service level agreements. This would have a knock on effect on the customer satisfaction (CSAT) and Ofwat’s service incentive mechanism (SIM) scores.” James, 26, who lives in Reading, has worked for Thames Water for two years and has built up a good relationship with the engineers his team keep on the move since starting the role nine months ago. He said: “We all have a good rapport with the field engineers and managers. We work very closely with field managers and schedulers, and without them our role would be very difficult. “We are also vital to their role. If we don’t update the system they would find it hard to schedule effectively.” James claims the biggest challenge his team face is ensuring the managers communicate effectively with the department, “to ensure the information we receive is accurate”. Contact the team when any of the following needs changing, updating or adding: standby rota, shift swaps, overtime/planned work, scheduling address, work centre details, and engineers’ contact details.
Residents on the Mogden tour
OPEN DAY: ‘Nothing but praise’ Angling legend and councillor head list of those impressed by new-look Mogden
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“found it most interesting” and that it was “useful to see the scale of the works”. Black & Veatch director David Port thought “the day was excellent” and he heard “nothing but praise concerning the project and the
KEITH ARTHUR: “IT WAS EXTREMELY ENLIGHTENING AND BRILLIANT NEWS FOR THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF THE RIVER I LOVE”
ositive feedback has been flowing in after west London’s biggest sewage works proudly showed off its £140 million extension. The Mogden team welcomed 420 guests for a guided tour and to meet the people who run the works at a successful open day at the end of June. Leading angling journalist Keith Arthur said: “It was extremely enlightening and brilliant news for the health and wellbeing of the river I love.” Hounslow councillor Liz Mammatt claimed visitors The play was one of the highlights
benefits it is delivering”. Residents were thanked for their patience throughout the threeyear construction project, and found the tour “interesting and insightful”. One neighbour said: “The experience has been fantastic. No longer am I unaware what happens behind
Keith Arthur has Martin Baggs hooked
the closed gates of Mogden. The highlight has to be the play by the children. We had a wonderful time and excellent experience.” Another added: “The whole experience was enjoyable and informative. It was very well organised and a credit to all involved – well done and thanks for opening your doors to the public.” Mogden, in Isleworth, has had its treatment capacity expanded by 54 per cent to significantly reduce sewage overflows to the River Thames during heavy rain, and improve the quality of treated wastewater recycled to the environment. www.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 21
news
No more
lost graduates How DOCUMENTUM is now preventing any last minute panic calls to HR
“Things like placement timetables and joining instructions, health and safety information and what equipment they will need for each placement. “It also makes it much easier for the line managers to know where their graduates are working at any one time and to keep a track of their progress.”
BY HAYLEY WEBB
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ith over 11 million company documents and helpful features such as version control and spaces, Documentum is growing in popularity. Despite a shaky start, hard work behind the scenes has made a number of improvements to making Thames Water’s web-based filing system more reliable and responsive. Talent co-ordinator Emma Goldsmith, for example, has found it incredibly helpful managing the graduate programme. “We had 23 graduates join us last year, all on the same day,” she said. “They undertake a number of short placements across the business so are changing supervisors and locations on a regular basis. Organising this can be complicated.”
DID YOU KNOW? DOCUMENTUM HAS ONLY EXPERIENCED ONE MAJOR CRASH SINCE MARCH Documentum makes life easier for Emma Goldsmith
Previously, all of the logistical information relating to their placements was sent out by email but this information was frequently lost or misplaced, Emma explained. This resulted in graduates regularly not knowing where they were supposed to be. “We have now created a space in Documentum which is a one stop shop containing all the information the graduates need,” added Emma.
Having the information in Documentum makes things much simpler for both the graduates and HR team, and since the launch of the space there have been no last minute ‘panic’ phone calls. The My Documentum project team is now set to make the system even better for the upgrade in mid-September. Soon it will be easier to save files, easier to save emails and attachments from Outlook and easier to access files from within highuse applications. For more information about My Documentum check out the portal.
Hose-trigger draws crowd “There was a very positive response to our products,” she added. “Hose-triggers were most popular as this was a gardening event, but shower timers came a close second – many loved the idea for their teenage children or partners. “The water butt prize draw was also good way to draw people in and talk to them about how we need to protect supplies for the future, and how we still want people to enjoy water but enjoy the benefits of saving it too.” In total, 517 people requested products for an assumed water saving of 10,607 litres per day from the event, which ran from June 21 to 23. Rosie added that the Thames Water volunteers “were Heather Aitken says fantastic, and helped the use water wisely Rosie Rand gets the message across event run very smoothly”.
Visitors to the Blenheim Palace Flower Show were interested to discover how they could save water in their gardens. More than 500 people walked away with free water-saving products, with the hose-trigger guns proving the most popular among the greenfingered crowds.
“CUTTING DOWN DOESN’T NEED TO AFFECT YOUR DAILY ROUTINE” Water efficiency analyst Rosie Rand said having a joint stand with ecogarden firm Irrigiatia – who sell solar powered watering systems – at the three-day event at the famous country house in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, proved a success.
22 | august 2013 www.thameswater.co.uk
HISTORIC THAMES RACE STILL ROWING STRONG Thames Water sponsors world’s longest-running sporting event, described as ‘a real accolade among everyone working on the river’ BY NATALIE SLATER
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atermen and lightermen rowed from London Bridge to Chelsea for the honour of being presented the ‘Doggett’s Coat and Badge’ by HRH Princess Anne. At nearly 300 years old, the four-mile race on July 12 saw six apprentices who work on the River Thames battle head-to-head for the striking red tunic and silver badge. Princess Anne was at the race to recognise the importance of keeping such traditions, while valuing the role watermen and lightermen play in London’s economy. Winner Nathaniel Brice, 24 from Eltham, said: “I’m so pleased to have won this year. It was a really lovely way to finish off my apprenticeship.” Also on hand to congratulate the rowers, who pass under 11 bridges in the race, was Thames Water’s chief executive Martin Baggs. He said: “The Doggett’s Coat and Badge is a real accolade among everyone working on the river and I think it is credit to their heritage that it’s still
going, nearly 300 years on. “Obviously the River Thames is at the heart of what we do as a business so it’s important for us to improve the quality of the river for those who spend their lives working on it. “The Thames Tideway Tunnel is essential to bring this about. We need to tackle the vast amount of raw sewage which currently spills into the Thames.” Princess Anne also crowned a group of students from Kingsford Community School in Newham champions of a cross borough indoorrowing competition at the event. The school’s Year 7 and 8 students held off competition from 16 schools in four London boroughs to scoop the title of Row4Results champions 2013.
“THE DOGGETT’S COAT AND BADGE RACE MEANS A HUGE AMOUNT TO EVERYONE CONNECTED TO THE RIVER BY THEIR WORK” The competition is part of a programme run by the Thames Tideway Tunnel project in partnership with London Youth Rowing to improve access to the sport across the capital. The Thames Tideway Tunnel is a new 15-mile sewer urgently needed to help tackle discharges of untreated sewage to the river from the capital’s overstretched Victorian sewerage network. The plans for constructing the tunnel involve transporting at least 4.2 million tonnes of material by barge, creating nearly 300 jobs on the river alone.
HRH Princess Anne
sport Winner Nathaniel Brice
Charlie Maynard, orange, and Stuart Coleman
Doggett’s Coat and Badge results: 1 Nathaniel Brice, Eltham, City Cruises; 2 Henry McCarthy, Blackheath, City Cruises; 3 Stuart Coleman, Kidbrooke, Livett’s Launches; 4 Samuel Metcalf, Bermondsey; 5 Charlie Maynard, Erith, Woods River Cruises; 6 Dominic Coughlin, Cuxton, S Walsh & Sons of Brentford.
Doggett’s Coat and Badge Founded by the Dublin-born actor Thomas Doggett in 1715, the race is staged by the Fishmongers’ Company, in partnership with the Company of Watermen and Lightermen. Andrew Morgan, Fishmongers’ prime warden, said: “The Doggett’s Coat and Badge race means a huge amount to everyone connected to the river by their work. It is a real challenge to the participants’ skills as watermen. “Sadly, the decline of the river-related industries has reduced the size of crowds watching the race in recent years. “With the Thames Tideway Tunnel raising awareness of the importance of the river to London’s economy, and the race’s 300th anniversary in 2015 fast approaching, we hope more and more people will turn out to support this quintessentially London tradition.” www.thameswater.co.uk august 2013 | 23
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