Drinking water quality training delivered to industry-wide staff

The Challenge

It's crucial for professionals working across the drinking water supply system, from policy, construction, consultancy, and operations, to have a solid foundational understanding of the principles and processes used to ensure the quality of water for end users. This is true for both new starters to the industry requiring a broad knowledge of the field, as well as network scientists seeking an understanding of how their role fits into the wider water quality system. All require the confidence to recognise the impacts of water sources and distribution assets; which scientific parameters are monitored, sampled and reported; and how water quality incidents are managed, in order to bring context to, and support decision making within, their role and future career.

The Solution

WRc Academy hosted a 3-day in-person course open to individuals from across the industry, in order to increase their understanding of safeguarding public health through upholding high standards of water quality management. The course addressed learners' challenges of maintaining safe and reliable drinking water by equipping them with the knowledge to identify water quality issues, understand regulatory requirements, and respond effectively to water quality failures. It focused on monitoring practices, sampling techniques, and the impacts of distribution systems, while also emphasising best practices for handling customer disputes and complaints.

Subject matter experts and training specialists employed a range of techniques to ensure the course was highly interactive, combining lectures, group discussions, and practical exercises to create an engaging and effective learning experience. An end-of-course multiple-choice assessment was used to demonstrate knowledge transfer and confirm that delegates’ understanding had significantly improved. Sharing knowledge with participants from diverse roles and levels of experience across the water industry, as well as WRc experts during three networking lunches, encouraged meaningful discussions and facilitated a broader exchange of ideas, further enriching the learning process.

The Outcome 

The programme delivered the learning objectives to support delegates from 11 businesses in understanding various basic aspects of water quality in the clean water supply system to provide them with confidence and proficiency in ensuring safe drinking water for end users. Drawing on WRc’s experience from consultancy, expert advice, and training at all levels, this course allowed learning to develop in an open, engaging, collaborative environment and was well-received by delegates; testimonials can be viewed below.