Today I hosted a visit to Reading Sewage Treatment Works from
my new best friends: Mr Mohammed Hannifah, COO for Indah Water, and Brian Allum
from International Water Specialists. Indah Water is the national wastewater
company for Malaysia. They have 6000 wastewater sites and serve a population of
21 million. It was an honour to host their visit. Mr Haniffah was visiting the
UK because he wanted to learn more about international best practices and,
clearly, where else would one go. Only at Thames Water?
Well, not quite. He is also visiting a number of other UK
water companies.
As we toured the site I learnt a number of interesting
things. For example, on English sewage treatment works we talk about Fats Oils
and Greases (FOGs). In Malaysia they just talk about Oils and Greases. No Fats.
I can’t help thinking this is a poor reflection on our dietary habits. I also
learnt, to my shame, that we are currently unable to operate the FOG removal
system at Reading (our flagship works?) and thus the site was experiencing
various problems with the downstream processes. Somewhat embarrassed I explained
that we were having operational issues. Was this a problem that could only
happen here. Only at Thames Water?
Well, no. Thankfully Mr Hannifah kindly acknowledged that
every works has problems like this, that we are not alone, that it’s good to see
the works in ‘true form’. It was very gracious of him.
After lunch we returned to our head office to close out our
discussions. My PA, Sarah Jane, had booked us into the new 4th floor
meeting room (looking resplendent with its purple sofas and arm chairs).
Overnight our Facilities Management team had put up some new art work.
Reconstructions of famous works of art, painted by teams within Thames as part
of the team building Transformation exercise. They are quite impressive, as you
can see from the attached photo. It’s just a shame that our FM colleagues don’t
seem to know which way is UP! Only in Thames Water?
Oh yes. Only in Thames Water. Makes you proud to be
British. I particularly love the fact that someone has helpfully
added Post Its with ‘Top’, ‘Bottom’, ‘Left’ and ‘Right’ written on them. I am
only surprised there isn’t another one in the centre stating ‘This side to be
facing the room’
(of course, I can hardly criticize. I can’t even count. As
some of you have kindly pointed out, there were two Notes 43 and
no Notes 44. Must try harder.)
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