WJA showcases training and membership offer at Metro Rod event
The Water Jetting Association has held “good discussions” with water jetting industry leaders and businesses at the annual conference of drainage services specialist Metro Rod.
The event brought together representatives of Metro Rod franchisees across the UK with other service providers, making it an ideal place to meet key drainage industry people.
Lee O’Callaghan and John Rhodes, members of the WJA’s Training and Safety Committee, represented the association at the event held at Celtic Manor Resort, near Newport, South Wales, on Saturday 1st July 2023.
Standards for success
Lee O’Callaghan, pictured above, said: “The Metro Rod annual conference was an excellent event to network and meet people in the drainage industry, as well as many different kinds of suppliers.
“We had good discussions with the scores of people who visited our stand. Almost all of them were very interested in what the WJA has to offer, in terms of membership and water jetting training.
“We all recognised that working together to set the highest standards, and making sure drainage teams have the right skills, underpins commercial success for good businesses in the industry.”
The WJA is keen to listen to all businesses and organisations across industries that use water jetting. By doing so it will be best able to represent its members’ interests, Lee O’Callaghan added.
Metro Rod service
Metro Rod is a member of the WJA. One of its internal training managers, Andy Sharpe, is also a member of the association’s Training and Safety Committee.
The company delivers a wide range of drainage services, including: CCTV drain surveys; sewer unblocking and cleaning; sewer repair; and drain lining through 40 franchisees located in most areas of the UK.
Other Metro Rod group services include: commercial plumbing; tankering; pump design and installation; and fats, oils and grease management.
New WJA module
The WJA took the opportunity to showcase its City & Guilds accredited training programme at the conference. This now includes a new practical module, called Drain, Sewer and Surface Preparation.
The surface preparation element – for using a gun up to 275 bar of pressure that an operative can comfortably control – has been added to acknowledge the use of water jetting to wash out drainage assets.
Drainage operatives can still attend the Drain and Sewer practical module.
Listen and learn
John Rhodes said: “We plan to attend more conferences and industry events over the coming month to listen, learn and promote the advantages of WJA training and membership.
“Water jetting has a growing number of applications. We need to be proactive to work with water contractors and service users. That’s how we keep our training and codes of practice relevant and powerful.”