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“A water company is only as competent as the staff it employs, which is why the DWI requires chartered scientists.”
It wasn’t until I started working for the Science Council that I realised how many scientists there are working in the UK in areas I had never considered “scientific”. Water, for instance. The water that comes out of the taps is treated, piped, monitored and quality controlled by many people, including scientists.
The Science Council believes every scientist has a responsibility to society, and themselves, to work with integrity, keep their skills and knowledge up to date and consider how their efforts affect the world around them.
My job is to promote this belief, to encourage scientists and their employers to invest in the time it takes to get and remain professionally registered. However, when I consider how much water I drink on a daily basis it all seems more urgent. Especially as water is so essential to our health and wellbeing. I wanted to find out how what I do affects what happens in the sector.
I spoke to Steve Youell, one of our chartered scientists and an inspector at the Drinking Water Inspectorate (DWI), who told me this about ensuring compliance with the Water Supply (Water Quality) Regulations 2000.
He said: “The regulatory duty to provide wholesome water and the protection of public health is secured by the competency of those who work in water companies and their associated stakeholders.
“This workforce must possess the skills, experience and knowledge to conduct this work effectively and to a high standard.
“Water quality will always be one of the main drivers of any water company and to ensure this is maintained, companies need a workforce that has the knowledge and competency in delivering safe, clean drinking water. Achieving professional recognition in science plays a big part in demonstrating that competency.”
It’s an excellent point, that a company is only as competent as the staff it employs. A company is its people.
As for why the DWI requires chartered scientists, as its job is to regulate the suppliers rather than provide the water, Youell said: “Being recognised as a chartered scientist is an important achievement for my role within DWI as it demonstrates that we, as the regulator, are committed to protecting water quality while also retaining a technical competence for advising and assessing companies’ compliance with the regulations.”
One of the things I do is encourage companies to become employer champions, a corporate engagement scheme that commits them to distinguish and reward staff through professional recognition.
So really, I’m making sure that I, my family and my friends all drink clean, safe water. And that’s a nice recipe for job satisfaction.
Hannah Kowszun, director of marketing and communications, the Science Council
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