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FeedsHome: Winter 2009 › Water passion
Water passion
01/12/2009 | Channel: Water
Scottish Water aims to deliver the best value in the water industry to its five million customers
Scottish Water was formed in 2002 when the three previous water authorities in Scotland merged. The utility serves five million customers across Scotland and is the fourth largest water company in the UK. Covering one third of the landmass of the UK, Scottish Water employs over 3500 staff and has a £1 billion turnover per annum. Supplying drinking water and wastewater services to domestic customers all over Scotland, Scottish Water plays a unique role in Scottish society as it has an impact on the lives of the vast majority of the population of Scotland.
Richard Ackroyd, CEO of Scottish Water outlines the company’s main services: “Every day 2.1 billion litres of clear, fresh drinking water is produced at our 299 water treatment works, before being delivered along 29,338 miles of water mains. In addition Scottish Water manages and maintains over 1800 wastewater treatment works, which treat and safely return Scotland’s wastewater to the environment.”
As it progresses, the company’s vision is to become Scotland’s most valued and trusted business. Richard elaborates: “We are the fastest improving water company in the UK, Ackroydand our passion for constant development is one of our greatest strengths. Our most precious asset is our extremely motivated and skilled workforce, which works constantly to contribute to communities across Scotland, adding immense value to the business. Our role involves protecting the natural environment and providing a first-class water supply, demonstrating that our social responsibility is as important to us as it is to the people of Scotland.”
He goes on to explain how the company maintains quality across the business: “We have, like all water companies in the UK, developed a constant programme of maintenance and capital investment. We are delivering an investment programme between 2006 and 2010, which valued at £2.4 billion, is the largest per head of population of any water business in the UK.
“Our next investment programme will run from 2010 to 2015 and will continue our rolling programme of capital maintenance, and water and wastewater improvements. Broadly speaking, the investment is split 50/50 between these two areas. Whilst delivering this programme, we aim to continue to keep our charges to customers as low as possible and to deliver further capital and operational efficiencies. We are now delivering our highest ever water quality, with this period seeing investment of almost £680 million to deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to the whole Scottish nation.”
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The company also aims to be more efficient so that it can meet and exceed regulatory targets. Richard comments: “A recent initiative that is helping to deliver improvements in our service to customers is the Advanced Scheduler. Over 1500 jobs per day are delivered to 647 field staff via this new system, which schedules jobs more efficiently and accurately than previous systems. This new introduction to our working practices has not been without its teething problems. But like any other new system it is undergoing a process of refinement and optimisation and we are seeing a steady improvement in service levels as time goes on.
“Environmental benefits in the next investment period will come from the maintenance of wastewater assets so they continue to meet the stringent standards set out by SEPA, our environmental regulator. As part of this we are looking at ways to minimise the discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs). It has long been recognised that the combined sewer system is not an ideal sewerage and surface water solution. We have a rolling programme of upgrades and modifications to our CSOs that is enhancing the water quality of our coastline and rivers. In addition, the use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs) means we are using natural systems like ponds and filter strips to treat surface water before it discharges to burns and rivers. SUDs can also be used to ensure that there is no increase in downstream flood risk but their primary purpose is providing surface water treatment.”
Training and development is of massive importance to Scottish Water. Having teamed up with training companies, Tigers and Carillion, the company is currently promoting a unique modern apprenticeship scheme for 16-18 year olds. It is also working with Barnardo’s charity towards the Get Ready for Work programme. “I believe it is important for Scottish Water to help create opportunities now to nurture talent for the future of our industry,” comments Richard.
Finally he outlines the company’s future development: “As with all businesses in the industry at the moment, we need to keep focused and continue to reach the levels of performance that our customers increasingly demand. Our long-term objective is to be the best water company in the UK and to outperform our contemporaries in the key areas of customer service, water quality, environmental compliance and leakage.”
Richard Ackroyd, CEO of Scottish Water outlines the company’s main services: “Every day 2.1 billion litres of clear, fresh drinking water is produced at our 299 water treatment works, before being delivered along 29,338 miles of water mains. In addition Scottish Water manages and maintains over 1800 wastewater treatment works, which treat and safely return Scotland’s wastewater to the environment.”
As it progresses, the company’s vision is to become Scotland’s most valued and trusted business. Richard elaborates: “We are the fastest improving water company in the UK, Ackroydand our passion for constant development is one of our greatest strengths. Our most precious asset is our extremely motivated and skilled workforce, which works constantly to contribute to communities across Scotland, adding immense value to the business. Our role involves protecting the natural environment and providing a first-class water supply, demonstrating that our social responsibility is as important to us as it is to the people of Scotland.”
He goes on to explain how the company maintains quality across the business: “We have, like all water companies in the UK, developed a constant programme of maintenance and capital investment. We are delivering an investment programme between 2006 and 2010, which valued at £2.4 billion, is the largest per head of population of any water business in the UK.
“Our next investment programme will run from 2010 to 2015 and will continue our rolling programme of capital maintenance, and water and wastewater improvements. Broadly speaking, the investment is split 50/50 between these two areas. Whilst delivering this programme, we aim to continue to keep our charges to customers as low as possible and to deliver further capital and operational efficiencies. We are now delivering our highest ever water quality, with this period seeing investment of almost £680 million to deliver clearer, fresher drinking water to the whole Scottish nation.”
')";>The company also aims to be more efficient so that it can meet and exceed regulatory targets. Richard comments: “A recent initiative that is helping to deliver improvements in our service to customers is the Advanced Scheduler. Over 1500 jobs per day are delivered to 647 field staff via this new system, which schedules jobs more efficiently and accurately than previous systems. This new introduction to our working practices has not been without its teething problems. But like any other new system it is undergoing a process of refinement and optimisation and we are seeing a steady improvement in service levels as time goes on.
“Environmental benefits in the next investment period will come from the maintenance of wastewater assets so they continue to meet the stringent standards set out by SEPA, our environmental regulator. As part of this we are looking at ways to minimise the discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs). It has long been recognised that the combined sewer system is not an ideal sewerage and surface water solution. We have a rolling programme of upgrades and modifications to our CSOs that is enhancing the water quality of our coastline and rivers. In addition, the use of sustainable urban drainage systems (SUDs) means we are using natural systems like ponds and filter strips to treat surface water before it discharges to burns and rivers. SUDs can also be used to ensure that there is no increase in downstream flood risk but their primary purpose is providing surface water treatment.”
Training and development is of massive importance to Scottish Water. Having teamed up with training companies, Tigers and Carillion, the company is currently promoting a unique modern apprenticeship scheme for 16-18 year olds. It is also working with Barnardo’s charity towards the Get Ready for Work programme. “I believe it is important for Scottish Water to help create opportunities now to nurture talent for the future of our industry,” comments Richard.
Finally he outlines the company’s future development: “As with all businesses in the industry at the moment, we need to keep focused and continue to reach the levels of performance that our customers increasingly demand. Our long-term objective is to be the best water company in the UK and to outperform our contemporaries in the key areas of customer service, water quality, environmental compliance and leakage.”
