Water & Wastewater Treatment

www.wwtonline.co.uk | WWT | APRIL 2016 | 13 Front line Richard Park Community Education Centre Manager, Anglian Water What's the main purpose of your job role? To educate customers on the role Anglian Water plays in their lives, how and why it is important to save water and the consequences of the things we put down our sinks and toilets. When did you start working in the water industry and what led you to your current job? I started working for Anglian Water in 2012. Before that I was a primary school teacher but had a keen interest in the environment from my degree, so it was a natural fit combining both interests. Describe your typical working day. I normally start with a pre tour to check everything is safe on the site for the visit, then set up the classroom for day. When a school group arrives, I do a brief introduction and then run a health and safety check. In the initial briefing we'll look at all the things you put down your sinks and toilets, and help children understand what they might see on the works. We then have a tour of the works looking at how we recycle the sewage so it is safe to go back into the river. A•er lunch - a crucial part of the day for any school trip - we have a closer look at micro-organisms in the a•ernoon. What attributes do you need to do your job well? Preparation and flexibility are key. All school groups are slightly different and want something different from the visit, even when the activities are the same. I will make sure I speak to teachers and leaders before to find out what they want from the visit. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? The feedback form teachers and leaders about what they have shared with others when they have le•. It is great to hear that the messages are spreading. And the worst (or most challenging) aspect? The most challenging part is the questions that are asked. There is always a new question - some I have the knowledge to answer, but others I will have to ask someone! Which people do you work most closely with in your working day? Visitors at the centre, the staff on site and the wider Sustainability team. When not at work, my ideal way to unwind is… Going out for a run and coaching junior athletes at my local athletics club. ● Each year Anglian Water talks to around 24,000 children in its region at its two purpose-built education centres in Leighton Linslade and Chelmsford, and through its education outreach programme in schools ● Richard Park manages the Chelmsford Education Centre, which was opened in 2006 and has hosted over 600 school visits in nine years ● Educational visits give children and adults the opportunity to discover the sights, smells and sounds of a treatment works, with interactive sessions to give a greater appreciation of the water cycle and the value of water Richard Park talking to schoolchildren in Chelmsford For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk INNOVATION CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk DATA & ANALYTICS CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk RESILIENCE CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk SKILLS CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk TOTEX CONTENT STREAM: For insights and show news visit utilityweeklive.co.uk CUSTOMERS CONTENT STREAM:

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