Faye: “Wastewater optimisation is never finished and that’s what makes my job so exciting”

Faye Williams, a Commissioning and Optimisation Manager at Welsh Water (Dŵr Cymru), works at the dynamic point where engineering, operations and compliance meet. With hands-on experience across wastewater treatment sites and a passion for solving complex process challenges, she is part of the European Junior Water Programme (EJWP), since August 2025. Faye brings a strong operational perspective to the international EJWP community, contributing insights from one of the UK’s largest not‑for‑profit water utilities as the sector faces rising pressures from emerging contaminants, new regulatory demands and climate-driven risks.

What is your current work position?

“I’m a Commissioning and Optimisation Manager, which means I spend a lot of time making sure our wastewater treatment sites run as efficiently as they can and that capital delivery schemes deliver compliance requirements. My role sits at the point where operations, engineering, and compliance meet, so I’m often helping translate issues on the ground into workable solutions, and making sure we use our assets in the smartest possible way.”

Can you describe one of your work days?

“No two days ever look the same. I might start the morning reviewing site data or talking through performance risks with operators and scientists. Then I’m often out on site looking at process behaviour, helping troubleshoot something unexpected, or supporting the commissioning of new treatment stages like tertiary solids removal. The rest of the day can be anything from planning the work programme with my team, to working through mitigation recommendations, to catching up on a scheme that’s nearing delivery. It’s busy, technical, and always varied, which I really enjoy.”

What do you consider the most interesting part of your job?

“For me, it’s the problem‑solving. I genuinely enjoy figuring out why something isn’t behaving as it should and working with the right people to get it back on track. Wastewater processes are complicated and constantly changing, so when you get something optimised and stable, especially at a tricky site, it’s really rewarding. I also love that the work is tangible: you can see the impact.”

Name a topic that is increasingly important in the water sector?

“For me, one of the most important and rapidly growing issues in the water sector is the rise of emerging contaminants in wastewater and sludge. We’re seeing more pharmaceuticals, PFAS, microplastics, and industrial compounds showing up in our treatment streams, and traditional processes weren’t designed with these newer pollutants in mind. This is pushing the sector toward new technical solutions and more advanced monitoring approaches, but there’s also a clear gap in how these developments translate to day‑to‑day operational understanding. Supporting operators with the right knowledge, tools, and confidence to manage these challenges is becoming just as crucial as the technology itself.”

What are your expectations from international cooperation?

“From international cooperation, I expect a stronger exchange of technical knowledge, research findings, and practical experience to help address shared challenges such as emerging contaminants and climate-driven pressures on water systems. Other countries are often trialling or implementing innovative solutions that can accelerate learning and prevent duplication of effort, especially in areas where new technologies outpace sector-wide expertise. By working together, we can build a more informed and resilient global water community that is better equipped to adopt advanced treatment methods and respond to evolving environmental threats.”

Why you are joining EJWP and what it has brought you so far?

“I am joining EJWP to expand my technical understanding of emerging issues in the water sector, learn from diverse perspectives, strengthen my ability to implement new solutions within my organisation, and to develop myself. Already, the programme has exposed me to a wider network of professionals and provided fresh insight into how other countries approach challenges like emerging contaminants and the integration of new technologies. It has also helped build my confidence in navigating complex technical topics, especially in areas where the sector often lacks widespread expertise.”

What and where you studied, and how you ended up working in water?

“I studied Environmental Sciences at Cardiff and Birmingham universities, focusing particularly on marine and river systems, which gave me a solid grounding in how aquatic environments function and respond to pressures. That interest naturally carried over into understanding how our actions on land impact water quality, ecosystems, and downstream communities. Moving into the water sector felt like a practical way to apply that knowledge, especially in wastewater, where I could work directly on the challenges facing our rivers today – from emerging contaminants, nutrient load and pathogens to the need for more advanced treatment solutions. It brought together my academic background with a role where I can make a real, tangible difference.”