19 July 2010
A Barrow water engineer is making waves after getting a top qualification in reservoir safety.
Mike Dixon, from Askam in Furness, who works for United Utilities, has become a reservoir supervising engineer - one of approximately 250 in the UK.
His new status - granted by Defra - follows years of hard study and a gruelling interview at the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) London before a panel of senior reservoir experts.
Mike's vital day job as Headworks Controller means he's already responsible for the upkeep and safety of six of United Utilities' reservoirs across the south Lakes.
His new status means he is now qualified to give advice on reservoir legislation and the latest in technology and surveillance techniques, able to draft statutory reports and oversee others' work to make sure it's every bit as good as it should be.
United Utilities is the region's water company and also one of the biggest owners of reservoirs in the UK, responsible for around 180 reservoirs from Carlisle to Cheshire.
"United Utilities' reservoirs are very safe and we maintain them to a high standard, visually inspecting them far more frequently than is required by the Reservoirs Act. They're very well looked after," explained Mike.
Mike recently helped oversee a multi million pound dam improvement projects at Seathwaite Tarn and Pennington reservoirs, both in the Barrow area.
"It's a very responsible job but also very enjoyable. Some people might think I'm a bit of an anorak but I think I'm very lucky. People pay a lot of money to go on holiday somewhere like Levers Water and I get to visit for my job.
"Becoming a supervising engineer took a lot of hard work and means I need to keep updating my skills. Reservoirs are getting more and more safe all the time and there are always newer technologies and techniques for surveillance being developed."
Mike lives with his wife Linda and has a daughter, a son and a grandson. He started work with North West Water almost 25 years ago as part of road digging gangs but quickly found his niche on the process side of the business. He now holds qualifications in hydraulics, soil mechanics and civil engineering and is a member of the British Dam Society.