Not all heroes wear capes…sometimes a set of WCI overalls will do the job.
Our service department is at the heart of WCI, the glue that holds us together if you like. A small but highly skilled team providing round the clock support to our customers, commissioning new wastewater installations, providing routine maintenance to keep systems running efficiently and responding to emergency breakdowns when your private water supply has failed. Or there’s sewage on your lawn.
Suffice to say our service engineers are rarely seen in the office so we thought we’d find out what they get up to during a ‘typical’ week. Here’s what Senior Service Engineer, Chris, got up to.
Monday
First on the list is a visit to a recently purchased house with a failing sewage treatment plant. A problem that regrettably could have been flagged with a pre-purchase home buyers compliance survey. On inspecting the system, Chris found it not only needed desludging and washing down but new media bales, internal pipework airlines and diffusers – basically a full rectification to bring it back to a serviceable condition. WCI will always discuss options to repair or rectify an existing system before recommending replacement and the customer was happy to have this offered as an option. A quote will be provided for the work.
Chris didn’t have far to go for his next job: a first time visit to a neighbour who had got in touch knowing we were going to be in the area. He’d been concerned the blowers weren’t working correctly on his sewage treatment plant and that the air pipe may be leaking. With the relevant spare parts already in the van, Chris was able to inspect and replace the affected parts there and then, and the customer asked to sign up to a service contract for continued maintenance.
One final stop on the way back to the office to commission a new GRAF one2clean package treatment plant and pump chamber installed as part of WCI’s free septic tank upgrade scheme. Like all our service engineers, Chris is British Water accredited and qualified in the mechanical and electrical commissioning of all types of systems which is needed to validate the manufacturer’s warranty on the treatment plant. With the new treatment plant signed off and operational, it was time to head back to base.
Once back at the office Chris caught up with emails before producing a full quote for the rectification of the sewage treatment plant surveyed that morning.
Tuesday
The day started with a beautiful drive over Exmoor to a farm to oversee the emptying of a sewage treatment plant by another contractor before providing an annual service. The service required clearing of the gravel beds and distribution pipework, a two-person job with fellow service engineer, Taz.
From here, Taz and Chris headed to their next visit to replace the main bearings in a Klargester Biodisc plant. Together they were able to safely lift the filter pack using appropriate equipment, remove the old bearings and inspect and clean the shaft prior to the new bearings being fitted.
Next was a quick stop to an emergency call from a property owner who believed the pump had stopped working on his treatment plant. A close examination revealed a failed air blower which he was able to replace from his van stock and have the system functioning again in no time.
Concluding the day was a call to a caravan touring park. A pre-service inspection a fortnight earlier had highlighted a potential problem with the diffuser legs on the sewage treatment plant and a need to service the air blowers. After a thorough service and test of all component parts the system was given the thumbs up.
Wednesday
Today Chris and Taz visited one of our regular clients, a large marina in Southampton, to perform rectification and servicing of a commercial sewage treatment plant and pump station. The marina is under a quarterly servicing plan with WCI which includes regularly emptying and jetting as well as sampling of each sewage treatment plant. The visit required two service engineers to perform a full service and sampling with special attention on today’s visit to check that sludge return function within the plant was operating correctly.
Thursday
It was a ‘clean jobs’ day for Chris as he headed to a rural property to inspect the water quality of a private water supply fed from a borehole. Chris took a water sample to send to a UKAS accredited laboratory for full biological and chemical testing. Once the results are back Chris will formulate a plan to ensure that the current filtration system is adequate and producing water that is wholesome and compliant with the Private Water Supplies Regulations.
Keeping with potable water, Chris’s next task, alongside Mike, was to sample the private water supply for three tenanted properties on behalf of a land agent in Somerset. Microbiology sampling was conducted to analyse the bacteriological content of the drinking water and is part of ongoing fortnightly testing regime. Like this morning’s job, Chris will send the samples to a laboratory and await the results to inform what course of action should be taken.
Friday
Is an office day! Office days allow for quotes to be written and followed up, bill of materials produced (ready for procurement) for upcoming Service Projects, emails answered and outgoing reports peer reviewed. They are invaluable to ensure the wider team remains productive and happy. The day concludes with a wash and restock of the van ready for another week of calls.
More about Chris…
Chris joined WCI in 2020 with 20+ years’ experience servicing mainly potable water systems, having started his career as an apprentice with a water pump and motor specialist. As a senior service engineer Chris is in demand for the routine service, maintenance, rectification and commissioning of foul and potable treatment systems. As the senior engineer Chris also provides valuable technical support to our more junior engineers.
Why did you choose a career in water engineering?
To say that it’s been a lifelong vocation would be a lie – few people are born aspiring water and wastewater service engineers! However, it is solid career choice that offers huge variety and there’s never a shortage of employment opportunities. I’ve always been interested in how things work; I grew up tinkering with machines and I relish the challenge of having a puzzle to solve. When the opportunity arose to start an apprenticeship in a water and electrical engineering firm I jumped at the chance, and I haven’t looked back. It’s not a glamorous job but it is hugely rewarding and, despite what many may think, we’re not constantly covered in muck!
What opportunities and experiences have you gained at WCI that you might not find elsewhere?
As part of the WCI team I’m directly involved in a huge variety of projects that have a direct positive impact on our communities. There is no ‘typical week’ really; the breadth of work is vast and with each one you feel like you’re making a real difference to someone’s life.
