Megan, Senior Environmental Scientist

How long have you worked for Wessex Water?

I joined Wessex Water in August 2019.

How did you apply?

It was a little serendipitous actually. When I was doing my Master’s degree, I attended the River Restoration Conference in Liverpool in May 2019. I went on my own and didn’t know anyone. At the conference dinner on the first night, I ended up sitting next to Wessex Water’s Head of Environmental Investigations. As we were talking, he mentioned a role coming up in his team for an ‘Assistant Environmental Scientist (Chemicals).

I didn’t think too much about it as I was still a few months away from completing my studies and it was very different to what I thought my career would look like at the time. However, when I saw the advert come up, I thought it looked interesting and a bit different to other roles I was applying for. I applied and was interviewed in June, finished my studies in July and started at Wessex Water in August. I’ve been here ever since and never looked back!

What attracted you to Wessex Water in the first place?

I was intrigued about the role; I didn’t know that water companies had environmental teams like this, so it opened another avenue for my career path that was previously unbeknownst to me.

Since joining, I have given guest talks at the University of Worcester (my alma mater) to undergraduates in the third year River Conservation and Management module. This is to showcase how water companies manage rivers and streams (we do a lot more than just supply and waste), and to show that water companies are a great career path for budding environmental scientists.

What does your job entail and what do you most enjoy about the role?

In my current role, I manage the Chemical Investigations Programme (CIP). It is a national programme of wastewater investigations looking at emerging substances and the impact of water industry discharges on the environment.

I enjoy the challenge and variety of the role. It has allowed me to develop a broad understanding of very niche topics, eg, microplastics, antimicrobial resistance, sludge and biosolids, groundwater quality, river and sewer catchment studies, treatment efficiency, asset performance, and permitting and regulation for emerging substances.

Within my time at Wessex Water, I have had the opportunity to be involved in, and am now able to facilitate in my project manager role, world-leading research with the University of Bath in wastewater-based epidemiology (using wastewater to understand the health of a community).

Tell us about your team and what you like most about working with them

I think our team is the best team! The Environmental Investigations team is unique within the company, not only due to the high quality and wide-ranging work we do, but because the people are so lovely. We have a very supportive team with a big mix of personalities and interests. We are quick to celebrate success throughout the team, both personal and professional, and we are there for each other during difficult times, too. It is a team of belonging.

It is encouraging to have a lot of female role models (#WomenInSTEM) that I can look up to in the team and wider department, and of course not forgetting our brilliant Director of Environmental Solutions, Ruth Barden , and Director of Environment, Customer and Commercial, Emma Baker, who are never too busy to have a chat with.

Why do you think Wessex Water is a great place to work?

During my time at Wessex Water, I have been able to thrive personally and professionally with lots of opportunities available to me. I have been able to support my professional development through becoming chartered with the Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM), thanks to the fantastic mentorship and support from lots of other colleagues.

This is compounded by winning the CIWEM Presidential Award for Early Careers, which I think is down to, in part, the opportunities and amazing people around me at Wessex Water (as well as a bit of luck and hard work).

What do you enjoy most when not working?

I mainly do sports outside of work. I play badminton for a club in Bath and my home county (Wiltshire). I enjoy running and often run and volunteer at parkrun with the Bath Skyline course as my local. I am not a fast runner, but I enjoy the community atmosphere as well as touring other park runs across the country.

My latest hyper-fixation is rowing, I joined the Avon County Rowing Club in September after a ‘Learn to Row’ course. I’m really enjoying it; I find it quite mindful when I’m on the water. I’d encourage everyone to step outside their comfort zone and try something new. You might find your next hobby or learn something new about yourself!