Water chiefs exposé – what’s wrong withH2O? – how do we make it right?

who said water was boring? With the current high profile of river pollution, alleged sewage dumping, water shortages, hosepipe bans, rising bills, combined with apolitical and regulatory ineptitude to tackle any of the causes, we needed an insider view.

How about a guy from humble origins who has worked at the sharp end of all of these issues for over 60 years? Public and private sector. Someone who could tell us how it is. Simple, plain, truthful, and how we got here? Well, that guy is here and in his recently published book “…Is that the water board?” he has given us the reality and a whole lot more.

Alan Smith’s memoir is a compelling and perceptive overview of hot, cold, and no water, a utility service we take for granted, until there is either not enough of it, or too much impacting our local environment.

With unrivalled experience and a career life in water, the Derbyshire author shares his stories and anecdotes, often humorous and sometimes tragic, including being embroiled in the unpopular privatisation of the nation’s water industry back in 1989, and a host of other high-profile challenges and events throughout his long and successful water career.

More than qualified to share his recommendations for urgent industry structural change; the author has worked in senior positions with UK water companies Severn Trent, South West, and Yorkshire Water, as well as setting up his own successful UK and international water business.

This outstanding and unique memoir will astound and hopefully inspire all of us to be more appreciative of the natural resource we simply couldn’t live without and what we need to do to protect and enhance it for future generations.

Synopsis:

Telling the career story of a Derbyshire lad brought up in post war poverty who went on to be at the sharp end of one of the most controversial Thatcher privatisations…involved in the politics of fat cats…profits, dividends, rising water bills…Carsington Dam collapse, sewage outfalls, Clean Sweep, Yorkshire Water drought…standards versus costs…drip of the drought…and much more… 60 years of working in the UK public and private sector and across the world…arguing with politicians, managing hostile press and media, bringing common sense to boardrooms and applauding the dedication of 50,000 UK water industry employees…including where we are today and changes urgently needed for tomorrow.

£2.00 DONATION TO WATER AID WITH EVERY BOOK SOLD

Published by Water-People, Is That the Waterboard? Is available in paperback (£8.19) on Amazon at https://bit.ly/40IfM69

It is also available to purchase at https://www.water-people.com/book

About the author:

Currently running his own UK and international water business from his Devon base, Alan Smith works on many continents advising and providing water industry knowledge and experience to individuals and companies. He supported the Blair Government immediately following the Iraq War with technical improvement support for Baghdad’s shattered water infrastructure.

From presentations on Capitol Hill, Washington, to expert support and advice on many continents and countries including the US, Kathmandu, Albania, UAE, KSA, Qatar, Guyana, Australia, and most European countries.

He cites his worldwide success to a spectacular failing of his 11 plus examination; opening up an opportunity for a privileged secondary modern education and a rare degree in common sense, plus his Mothers sound advice and encouragement as a 15-year-old to work for the local river board because “they pay you when you’re off sick.”