The water industry supply community has had a critical role in keeping water and wastewater supplies running during the Covid-19 pandemic.
During the earliest days of the crisis, trade association British Water moved quickly to support its members, who include suppliers, manufacturers and water companies, and keep them informed about impacts on the water and wastewater sector.
Key to this was establishing a weekly video conference for members to share experiences and explore responses, with guest speakers from across the industry offering insights and guidance. The Better Together calls continue to welcome growing numbers of participants from the supply chain and utilities, as well as regulators and consultants, with up to 100 taking part every Friday lunchtime.
Subscribe to PII and receive:
Our long-established bi-monthly digital magazine *Process Industry Informer*, featuring exclusive articles, news and updates across the Process Industries, plus commentary from our three industry experts:
Sean Moran
Gavin Smith
Dave Green
PLUS:
- Process Industry Update — our weekly e-newsletter
- PII Podcast
- Special messages from our advertising partners
Chaired by British Water chief executive Lila Thompson, speakers have included Ofwat chief executive Rachel Fletcher, the Environment Agency’s Toby Willison, Water UK’s Sam Larson, the Drinking Water Inspectorate’s Milo Purcell and co-chair of the All Party Parliamentary Water Group’s Baroness McIntosh of Pickering, as well as chief executives from numerous water companies and senior leaders from suppliers including MWH Treatment, Partech Instruments, Grundfos Pumps, Xylem Water Solutions and Isle.
Thompson said: “Video conferencing is an opportunity to maintain communication channels to let members know they are not alone. I have been impressed with the willingness of companies at all levels to explain the challenges that are emerging and offer examples of best practice in the ways they are responding.
“After each call, we bring the main points to the attention of relevant bodies to help bring about necessary change. We are also able to identify ways that British Water can facilitate practical support to companies throughout the supplier community.”
A broad range of topics have been discussed, focusing on health and safety, mental health and wellbeing, process and policy changes, operations, capital delivery and finance.
Some early challenges highlighted were how to operate with a scaled-back workforce, uncertainty over key worker status and the adjustment to homeworking. More recently, conversations have moved towards restarting capital projects, how the industry can emerge from the crisis in a strong position, what a “new normal” may look like and the need to prepare for the likelihood of “further waves of Covid-19”.
A recurring message has been the importance of the water industry supplier community in delivering essential services.
Thompson said: “The industry needs the whole supply chain to remain stable throughout this crisis and beyond and it became clear very early on that water companies were committed to protecting those skills and expertise by, for example, adjusting payment terms to help maintain cashflow.”
Conversations have also centered on:
- Ensuring field-based and on-site workers were able to carry out their work safely, in line with official guidance
- Steps taken to protect employees’ mental health and ensure individuals continue to feel part of a team while working at home
- Pride in how the industry stepped forward to keep essential services running, maintain assets and support vulnerable customers
- The importance of communication between water companies and suppliers of all sizes
- How the supply chain can meet the demands of the water industry when the 2020-2025 investment cycle ramps up in earnest
- How to best support UK exporters as we come out of lockdown
The conferences have received positive feedback from members and participants.
Duncan Leathley, director of sales at Grundfos Pumps, said: “The current coronavirus pandemic represents the single biggest challenge for everyone in the UK and beyond with an extremely fluid situation that presents new challenges daily.
“It is vital to understand how these daily changes are affecting our industry. I have been able to join nearly 100 British Water members from SMEs, manufacturers, consultants and main contractors and, of course, representatives from the water companies themselves.
“Listening to the weekly selected speakers allows you to gain a first-hand understanding of plans being put in place and how we as a business can alter our own plans to support the industry better. The sessions are very interactive, well managed and are a fabulous method of communicating and collaborating.”
Maintaining relationships
While the crisis unfolded at a rapid pace, Thompson noted that communications between water companies and the supply chain had been holding up well.
“Water companies are engaging well with the supply chain, especially at the tier 1 and tier 2 level, though some of the smaller companies had reported that information was not necessarily filtering down. We raised this during our Better Together calls and I am pleased that we are now providing regular feedback to Water UK’s Supply Chain Group.
“This is an industry that is underpinned by close relationships and that is only becoming more important as the whole sector rises to multiple unprecedented challenges – not just Covid-19 but ongoing issues such as the climate crisis and water scarcity. These are not going away and it is more important than ever that projects to ensure long-term resilience of supplies, and protect the environment, must continue.
“Although we are separate let’s not be disconnected – as the old proverb says, ‘there is wisdom in the counsel of many’. We remain committed to supporting members and our lines of communication are open.”
British Water’s Better Together video calls for members take place every Friday from 12-1pm. More details and recordings of previous calls are available on the British Water website www.britishwater.co.uk
