International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

This week we are celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

Leep’s New Water Quality Manager, Claire Pollard gives an overview below of her journey from obtaining a degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology to her current role.

‘I recently joined Leep Utilities as the Water Quality Manager responsible for ensuring compliance with the drinking water quality regulations and providing advice on all matters related to drinking water quality and supply. This comes after over 30 years working in the water industry for a number of incumbent water suppliers and for the Drinking Water Inspectorate, our drinking water quality regulator.

After obtaining a first degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology, I started working for a water company in the lab undertaking water testing. During that time, I obtained a Masters degree in Microbiology.  My career developed from that early water company experience, moving to the Drinking Water Inspectorate where I spent over 20 years working in all areas of the regulation of drinking water quality and public health, working my way up from an Inspector to Deputy Chief Inspector, Science and Strategy as the role was called then. This provided me with a solid regulatory background to go back into the industry in senior Water Quality regulatory roles. Some would term this ‘gamekeeper turned poacher’ but I saw it as a great opportunity to impart the experience gained with the DWI to promote the focus on delivering a safe clean drinking water to all customers from a suppliers perspective.

In the last 7 years back in the industry at the coal face so to speak, I have worked with come amazing and dedicated people, who despite the increasing regulatory and financial challenges, do want to do the right thing and ensure the drinking water supplies are maintained and of good quality.  I am looking forward to continuing with the same focus at Leep Utilities, one of the many NAVs (New and Variation Appointees) that are setting up to provide water and waste services along with other utilities to new development across the country.

It was during my time with the DWI that I obtained the Chartered Scientist award, the attraction being that it recognised all the different aspects of being a Water Scientist by profession rather than a scientist by qualification. It felt more relevant as a reflection of my wider water industry experience and knowledge that I had gained at that time.

The other strand of my long career in the water industry is becoming a member of the Institute of Water and obtaining the Chartered Scientist award, the attraction being that it recognised all the different aspects of being a Water Scientist by profession rather than a scientist by qualification. It felt more relevant as a reflection of my wider water industry experience and knowledge that I had gained at that time. I am also an assessor for all three of the scientific registration levels for both the Institute of Water and the Science Council promoting the benefits of being registered to scientific colleagues. The benefits of registration are so important for individual scientists in the industry as recognition of their professionalism gained through experience and knowledge in whatever scientific role they are working in, but also of their passion for being part of an industry delivering a vital public health service from provision of drinking water to treatment of sewage wastewater.

A recognition of my involvement with water quality and wider scientific areas of the water industry resulted in 2022, being honoured to be asked to become the new Vice President of Science for the Institute of Water.’

Welcome to the team Claire, we are so lucky to have you!