Two Generations of South West Water Operatives Reflect on Changes in Sewer Technology

On a wet day in the South West, some of the most important work protecting rivers and seas happens out of sight. Beneath roads, footpaths and fields lies a vast network of pipes, chambers and pumping stations. When it works, it goes unnoticed. When it does not, the consequences can be serious.

A new insight from South West Water brings together the experiences of two operatives from different eras to show just how much the job has changed.

Pete Turney, who spent more than 40 years working across sewerage, drainage and wastewater treatment before retiring, began his career in the early 1970s. Lewis Salter represents a newer generation of wastewater operatives, working with technology that Pete says simply did not exist when he started.

They never worked side by side. But their combined experiences show how the role and the risks have shifted over time.

“You looked, you judged, and you hoped you were right”

Pete joined the industry shortly after responsibility for sewerage and drainage transferred from local councils.

“The network was in desperate need of modernisation,” he said. “And there was basically no technology. None.”

Communication relied on unreliable radios. Maps were often outdated. Jobs were physical, labour intensive and slow.

“If we had a blockage or a burst, you’d have teams of us walking across muddy fields in all weathers, looking for signs of a spill. Sometimes you didn’t even know exactly where the sewer was meant to be.”

If records were unclear, excavation was often the only option.

“We’d excavate trial holes with a digger just to try and locate the pipe.”

Sewage pumping stations, frequently located underground because of odour and gases such as methane and hydrogen sulphide, were inspected manually.

“That meant climbing down rusty ladder rungs with a torch,” Pete said. “You lifted a cover, had a look, and made a call based on what you could see. And half the time, what mattered was what you couldn’t see.”

Confined space entry was common.

“It needed planning, permits, the right PPE, breathing apparatus, gas monitors. And even then, you were still guessing until you were down there.”

Reflecting now, Pete said: “Putting people into tanks or sewers always carries risk. Any technology that takes some of that away and that’s a good thing.”

“I can’t imagine working any other way”

Lewis Salter entered the industry in a very different environment.

“I honestly can’t imagine doing this job without the tech,” he said. “It must have been tough.”

Instead of relying on torches and judgement alone, Lewis uses high resolution 360 degree cameras lowered into chambers, sometimes more than 15 metres deep, supported by powerful lighting. Drones are used to capture the layout above ground.

“The camera takes images every metre. Walls, joints, fittings, stuff you’d never spot from the surface.”

The footage is processed into detailed 3D visual models that can be viewed remotely.

“Someone in the office can see exactly what I’m seeing, without standing over a manhole. That changes how decisions get made.”

“You think manholes are all the same. They’re not. Every one’s different. Now we’ve got the detail to plan properly first time.”

Less guesswork, fewer surprises

Both men agree the biggest change is certainty.

“You used to look and guess,” Pete said. “Now they know.”

Small issues underground, including damaged screens, tangled sensors or missing equipment, can escalate quickly during heavy rainfall. Identifying problems earlier means repairs can be planned before they lead to spills, emergency call outs or repeated road closures.

“And no one likes roadworks,” Pete added. “I remember the angry faces going past in cars.”

Lewis said reducing repeat visits makes a difference.

“If you don’t need repeated site visits, you don’t need the road shut three times,” he said. “You go in once, with a plan. I like to know we are spending our budgets carefully because customers and I’m one of those too deserve that.”

In the trial area, around 30 per cent of South West Water’s storm overflow sites are in areas requiring traffic management. The company says this new way of working could reduce that figure significantly to around 3 per cent. Traffic management is costly, so reducing the need for it means budgets for repairs and improvements can be used more effectively.

Seeing it before it spills

The technology is already identifying problems that may previously have remained hidden.

At Goslings Bridge storm overflow in Lyme Regis, 360 degree camera surveys identified a break in a screen deep inside the chamber. It was not visible from the surface but meant the overflow was no longer operating as it should.

Instead of sending engineers into a confined space to investigate, the issue was diagnosed remotely. Teams were able to understand what needed fixing and plan repairs safely and efficiently.

Experience still counts

For Pete, the changes are reassuring.

“The tools are different,” he said. “But the responsibility’s the same. A camera can show you what’s there but judgement comes from doing the job and today’s operatives have the benefit of the technology, guided by people who understand the network”.

Lewis agrees that experience remains vital.

“The kit makes things safer and more efficient, but you still need to know what you’re dealing with. The experience that people like Pete have built over the years really matters. It’s still hands on, you still get wet, you’re still standing in sewage, to be honest. The difference now is the data takes away the guessing, the danger and the darkness.”

📷Pete and Lewis