Skip navigation

Registrant Profile | Kath Norgrove CEnv, Severn Trent Water

Kath Norgrove CEnv FCIWEM C.WEM is a Network Optimisation Specialist providing technical expertise on the operation of the clean water distribution network to a wide variety of other teams within Severn Trent.

Kath, who in addition to being a Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv), is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (FCIWEM) and Chartered Water and Environmental Manager (C.WEM), has over twenty-one years’ experience in the water industry in a variety of posts, including eight in operational roles. This has given her a substantial breadth and depth of technical expertise and knowledge of water distribution networks operation and maintenance.

Kath’s role involves managing several clean water Control Groups; undertaking proactive improvement activity on the network, analysing/evaluating and optimising asset performance to provide an optimised and calm network for complex operational issues and ensure that the assets work together to maintain a resilient, reliable, and stable water supply. This includes delivering a programme of contingency plan reviews, raising operational risks, progressing preventative and/or mitigating actions and proactive works to ‘prevent the event’. She manages complex hydraulic issues, provides coaching/mentoring for colleagues within her own work team and is a CIWEM Mentor as part of STW’s CIWEM Structured Training Programme.

So where did Kath’s interest in environmental issues come from?

Qualified to Honours Degree level in Biology with General Studies, she credits her educational background for giving her a considerable personal understanding of environmental issues. By travelling on educational trips, she gained valuable insights into specific issues and anthropogenic impact in other areas of the world such as environmental and conservation hotspots like The Galapagos and Amazon.

This passion for the environment steers Kath’s role as Chair of ‘Sustainable Bridgnorth‘, a local grassroots organisation working towards a more sustainable and low carbon community in Bridgnorth and District. She is the Coordinator for the ‘Prevent Pointless Plastic’ campaign in Bridgnorth; an alliance of Sustainable Bridgnorth. The campaign brings together local businesses, groups, and individuals with the goals of reducing unnecessary use of plastic in the town and limiting waste generation and plastic pollution of the River Severn; raising awareness of the issue of single-use plastic and inspiring people and businesses to seek out re-usable products, re-use systems and recycling.

The campaign has been well-supported by the local community and has seen Sustainable Bridgnorth link up with other groups in Shropshire to form the ‘Shropshire Against Pointless Plastic‘ coalition, with Kath also liaising with other groups across the border in neighbouring counties working on their own plastic reduction campaigns. She is also the Local Champion for the Refill Bridgnorth Scheme. Bridgnorth now hosts two Refill Shops and was accredited in 2020 as a Plastic Free Community by the marine conservation charity, Surfers Against Sewage.

Recognition for this work has seen Kath interviewed by BBC Radio and TV and featured as part of a special report in ‘The Environment‘ CIWEM magazine, as well as being honoured as a Finalist for the Society’s 2019 and 2020 Environmental Professional of the Year award. She was also nominated for / selected as a Commonwealth Games Baton Bearer

 

Kath’s main tip for prospective Chartered Environmentalists:

The hardest bit is starting. After that, try bite-sized chunks to maintain your enthusiasm in the application process.

 

Profile correct as of June 2022

Useful Information & Resources

Share this page