Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Wastewater treatment works (like the water
treatment works discussed earlier) are primarily
the domain of the chemical engineer. The
wastewater treatment manager today is under four
key pressures from customer expectation,
sustainability, cost efficiency and new standards
(Figure 10.3). Toxicity-related consents will
require the development of rapid testing
technologies, both to control the process and to
trace 'polluters' who may not have, or do not
adhere to conditions in, trade effluent permits.
Endocrine disrupters and oestrogen mimics give
rise to great concern, particularly because
considerable elements of the budget for these
chemicals derives from domestic properties, the
effluent from which the companies are required
to accept. Progress on detection, analysis, treatment
and source control is urgently needed. Tighter
standards, for example in relation to nitrogen and
phosphate, and new standards relating to
ubiquitous substances like washing powder
brighteners, will bring further new challenges.
raw material supplier and worse, the natural
resource, which is its raw material, appears to be
likely to be more erratic in delivery. Following
the droughts in the UK in 1976, 1984 and 1995,
the industry must re-evaluate resource reliability
and the likely impact of present policies on the
rivers and groundwater. All environmental
impacts on water bodies, whether from
abstraction or from discharges, must be reviewed
in the light of the heightened public and political
concern for the environment. The water industry
has failed in its relations with the public. It has
focused on 'compliance', forgetting that this
might not accord with customer views on water
quality. In relation to droughts and to leakage,
the customer has been dismissed as emotional
and ignorant; both more than likely largely true,
but now the companies will be forced to levels
of leakage control and standards of service that
are not perhaps strictly economic. The industry
appears to have a short memory. Customer-
oriented management and recognition of public
perception through, for example, the
introduction of more water efficiency
programmes has been a short-term response.
Already some companies are introducing internal
competition that will bring them into conflict
CONCLUSIONS
The water industry is operating at a time of
change. The industry has no agreement with its
Figure 10.3
Challenges to
the water manager. The
water manager is
pressured by several,
sometimes contradictory,
challenges. Most actions
taken to respond to these
pressures have to be
invisible to the customers
and have minimum effect
on price.
