100 year old photo shows generational change at Southern Water wastewater works

Engineers working at a Southern Water wastewater treatment works in Kent received an extra special visitor this summer, highlighting how times have changed in the water industry.  

Ray Chapman, 87, who lives in Westgate-on-Sea, is one of many members of the public who wander up to the Swalecliffe site in Whitstable, to take a look at the progress of a major project to redesign its infrastructure and replace and lengthen a sea outfall pipe. 

After talking to some of the workers on site, Ray explained that his grandfather Robert Brown worked on the installation of the original pipe many years ago – and he revealed a photograph from time. 

The picture shows a team of workers in the early 1900s, with Robert sixth from the left. 

Ray explained: 

“I rooted round the house to find the photo because I knew I had it somewhere. I see all the excavators on site now and think to myself that the men who worked on the original pipe install didn’t have all that equipment - it was all manual labour.” 

Southern Water’s workers on site invited Ray to recreate a modern version of his grandfather’s photograph and presented a framed version to Ray and his wife Hilary, of the now and then images. 

Ray added: “I was surprised and thrilled to be given a framed version of both photos. They will sit nicely on the mantelpiece.” 

Sally Ford, Director of Health Safety, Security and Wellbeing at Southern Wat said: “It’s fascinating to compare how times have changed with health and safety. Times were very different a hundred years ago. These days there is nothing more important than your health, safety and wellbeing at work, it is a ‘non-negotiable’.” 

Southern Water has completed the controlled sinking of a new outfall pipe nearly 1km long at Swalecliffe. The engineering feat followed work by a specialist dredger, called the ‘Razende Bol’ and excavators working on the beach. The work has involved digging a trench that runs from Swalecliffe Wastewater Treatment Works out into the North Sea.