Severn Trent

We’re working hard to make a positive difference to the health of rivers and streams in hundreds of places across the region. Here, one of the team, David, talks about the work going on at Church Stretton in Shropshire. The new storm tanks we’re building here will hold thousands of litres of extra rainwater after heavy rain, before releasing it slowly to our treatment works. That will lead to fewer spills into local rivers – better for everyone. This is one part of our £450 million investment into restoring river health and reducing the use of storm overflows. To find out more, go to http://ms.spr.ly/6044lzUaw

She’s the inspiring supermum who juggled raising two daughters and TEN foster kids during a record-breaking 47-year career at Severn Trent. IT and software licensing expert Cathy Wood, 63, is the second longest serving female employee out of 9,000 workers here at Severn Trent. Her many roles over the years have included helping customers, introducing computer technology, and providing data to decide on potential hosepipe bans. Part of her role was delivering post direct to desks, in the days before computers and emails. She recalled: “It was a great way to get to know people and we sometimes had a laugh by throwing the letters and making people catch them! Today, her job involves keeping track of all technology inventory at sites and the licences and software needs. She also helps employees with licensing technology issues. Cathy, whose official title is Configuration Software Licence Analyst, said: “I remember we only had one computer at some sites and people had to queue to use it - and the first mobile phones were the size of bricks! “Technology changed the way we work. The emergence of software like Microsoft Teams means you can be anywhere and still connect directly with others in the business. That was vital in lockdown.” Looking to the future, she has no plans to retire anytime soon and added: “This is my second home. I’ve been here for 47 years, longer than I’ve been married, had my own home, and longer than I’ve had children. “I have a great job and work with wonderful people. Thank you for the memories!” Thank you, Cathy ❤️

We’re delighted that our regulator Ofwat has recognised our 2025-2030 business plan as ‘Outstanding’. Our 5 year plan will be a record investment boost for the region - keeping bills affordable and the second lowest in the country and delivering the best outcomes for our customers and the communities we serve. Read more about our plan and what it means for you here: http://ms.spr.ly/6043lKqyT

Here we are at the final part of our documentary on the development of our Net Zero Hub at Strongford in Staffordshire. In this final short episode, our Chief Executive, Liv Garfield, Chief Engineer, Bob Stear, and partners from Aarhus Vand and Melbourne Water Water reflect on the work that we’ve delivered in this first year of the Strongford Net Zero Hub project and what this could mean for the future. We believe absolutely that the work that we’re delivering at Strongford – in collaboration with some truly amazing partners, from start-ups to multinational firms – will be fundamental to developing a blueprint for all water companies to help them achieve their net zero commitments. For more information and to view the full documentary and a series of Q&As with myself, Bob and Liv Garfield visit the Net Zero Hub page on the Severn Trent website. Thanks for joining us for this update on the first year of work at the Strongford Net Zero Hub. We’re already looking forward to showing you more when the site is fully commissioned and operational. To find out more watch the video here: http://ms.spr.ly/6042l1bCs #netzero #innovation #partnershipworking #watertreatment #emissions

At Severn Trent , we’re always thinking about the future. It makes sense then that the penultimate episode of our documentary on the development of the world’s first Net Zero Hub, is all about what else we’re aspiring to deliver at this world-first site. In previous episodes, we’ve explored why the Strongford Net Zero Hub is so important in finding solutions to some of the issues presented to us through climate change, look in more detail at some of the processes involved, and reflected on the lessons we’ve learned in the first year. But what about the future? I sat down with Severn Trent’s Circular Economy Architect, Peter Vale , to have a chat through what other parts of the treatment process we can explore. From the repurposing of the grit and materials that are captured by the inlet screens, to introducing different bacteria at our activated sludge plants to cut out nitrous dioxide altogether, and recovering ammonia that can then be transformed into fertilisers or fuels, there are a vast range of potential technological applications. As well as ongoing problems like removal of microplastics and destruction of “forever chemicals” like PFAS and PFOS, we’re also exploring how sludge can be treated using advanced thermal conversion to create biochar, and produce an energy-rich gas to generate electricity. To find out more visit: http://ms.spr.ly/6041l1jdh #netzero #pfas #pfos #foreverchemicals #biochar #innovation #watertreatment #gritrecovery #nitrousdioxide #emissions Melbourne Water Aarhus Vand

Delivering a global first naturally means that there are plenty of lessons to be learned. In the third episode of our insider’s view of our work to deliver the world’s first Net Zero Hub at our site in Strongford, we reflect on some of the lessons we’ve learned on our journey so far. It’s absolutely vital that we’re working with partners who share our culture and, importantly, the belief in what we’re doing and the truly transformational impacts that it can deliver for our industry around the world. In some cases, the companies behind these amazing technologies have never worked in the water sector before and bringing together such a wide range of disparate suppliers to integrate their products on a single site has provided a range of unique challenges for us. But ultimately it’s this sense of collaboration that has helped us to move so quickly, installing and bringing up to operation an array of different technologies in just under a year. Underpinning this spirit of collaboration is strong knowledge-sharing, being able to communicate effectively through our design and delivery partners, Atkins and JN Bentley respectively, who have integrated these technologies into the existing on-site assets. To find out more visit the video here: http://ms.spr.ly/6048l1jjI #lessonslearned #netzero #innovation #partnershipworking #emissions #watertreatment Melbourne Water Aarhus Vand

Do you want to know more about some of the technologies that we’ve put in place at our Strongford Net Zero Hub? In the second part of our documentary series, we take a closer look at some of the innovations that we’ll be running at the site. While a large part of what we’re doing at Strongford is around finding ways to reduce our environmental impacts – through implementation of innovative technologies like the SUEZ Actilayer which converts nitrous dioxide into harmless N202 - we’re also looking for ways to make our processes more efficient. This includes implementing cellulose recovery (through technology from CIRTEC ), or the capture and removal of toilet paper from sewage which can then be recycled into a valuable and sustainable material that can be used across a range of industries. We’re also identifying greater efficiencies in our sludge extraction and treatment processes including work with ELIQUO HYDROK Hydrok to maximise the amount of biogas we can extract; optimisation of the digestion process through our use of Royal HaskoningDHV Eyphra technology; and collaboration with hydrolysis experts, Cambi to reduce the need for heat in the digestion process. The Net Zero Hub also provides a perfect opportunity for us to develop an improved holistic understanding of our processes by testing predictive modelling through the creation of a #DigitalTwin, which will allow us to optimize our technologies and reduce energy consumption on the site. To find out more watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/ey2vngc2 #netzero #innovation #technology #transformationaltech #greenhousegas #emissions #watertreatment Melbourne Water Aarhus Vand

Would you like to know how we’re creating a global first in wastewater? Today we’re launching our behind-the-scenes docuseries to share progress so far. Climate change is presenting a series of truly unique challenges absolutely unlike anything that we’ve seen before. The water industry consumes an estimated 3% of the UK’s energy output and is responsible for 1% of greenhouse gas emissions, so we saw it as absolutely vital to address our part in this and see what we could do differently. In 2023 we committed to an ambitious project: the transformation of our Strongford Sewage Treatment Works in Staffordshire into the world’s first Net Zero Hub. Over the last 12 months, we’ve been busily working with our partners, Our fifth largest wastewater treatment site, Strongford opened in 1924, serves some 40,000 customers and is representative of the kind of typical large urban sewage treatment plant that can be found around the world. This made it an ideal testbed for us to install and explore the use of new, cutting-edge technologies which – if proven successful – could represent a step change in the way that wastewater is processed. We’ve got the backing of every UK and Irish water company and as befits the scale of the challenge, we’ve also partnered with Melbourne Water Water and Aarhus Vand in Denmark. And to back up what we’re demonstrating, we’re working towards Carbon Trust accreditation. We’re sharing today the first part of a short documentary that we’ve put together to provide an update on our progress and offer a bit of a deep-dive into some of the technologies we’re trialing and the solutions we’re deploying at Strongford. I hope that this provides an insight into some of the amazing work that we’re undertaking and the truly transformational potential of these projects. To find out more watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/eNcT2pBx #netzero #innovation #technology #transformationaltech #greenhousegas #emissions #watertreatment

“My dad used to say if you enjoy your job, then stick with it. I do and have!” Dad-of-seven Shamsu Uddin has clocked up some 41 years at Severn Trent, making him one of the longest serving out of 9,000 employees. And the veteran retailer and customer service advisor, who is based at Severn Trent’s Coventry HQ, has led an extraordinary life of helping others away from work. He teaches badminton to youngsters at the ‘margins of society’ as part of his life-long role with the Bidgley Power Foundation, a Birmingham charity. He said: “I’ve also always enjoyed coaching and have been working with the charity for around 40 years helping teach children. Some are disabled, others may be in care, some just want to learn about a sport which teaches them all about the importance of team-work, as well as helping their fitness. “Seeing the joy in their faces when they manage to hit the shuttlecock for the first time makes me very happy as it means everything to them. I just want to keep giving back to my community.” So does the former Aston Manor pupil have any looming plans to call it a day and enjoy retirement with his growing family and wife Nessa, who he married more than 30 years ago “Oh no,” he laughed. “I want to get to 70 first - then I’ll consider it.”

We’re focused on improving river health, that’s why we’re moving further and faster than ever before. Meet Mark; he’s working on improvements at sewage treatment works across our region, like this one in Trescott, to help reduce spills. This is one of many projects that we're delivering at pace as part of a £450m programme of work across Staffordshire and the Midlands to support thriving, healthy rivers. By the end of 2024, we’ll have introduced new solutions, like this one, to 900 storm overflow sites, that once in place will see a reduction of spills by 20%. Find out more about what we’re doing to keep your local river healthy – visit http://ms.spr.ly/6046lDWTy.