Three generations of the same family had “the best job” working with sewage

Brothers Phil and Ian Powell are among three generations who have worked at Severn Trent’s Minworth Sewage Treatment Works since the company was established 50 years ago. The sprawling facility treats an average of 6,600 liters of sewage per second from nearly two million people in Birmingham and the Black Country, but can see that figure double during heavy storms.

And the Powells have been at the heart of the operation since the Severn Trent Water Authority was launched in 1974, later becoming Severn Trent, serving the West and East Midlands. The brothers’ late father, Albert, joined the company that year and worked at the factory, which dates back to Victorian England.

Phil joined his father at Minworth in 1981, aged 21, before younger brother Ian arrived in 2005. Phil’s son Jordan, daughter Dionne and even his wife Barbara have all previously worked on the site , while their grandson, Ryan Conway, was also employed there. Together, the Powells have spent more than 75 years working at sewage treatment plants, and father-of-two Phil is now one of Severn Trent’s longest-serving employees – having worked an incredible 42 years with the company.

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The senior technician, who grew up in Castle Bromwich, said: “My dad spent 20 years in the car trade at Morris and British Leyland. It was a time of strikes and you never got paid when you were on strike, so he had to do all kinds of jobs from cleaning windows to delivering bread and even picking spit to provide for his family.

“He saw an advert for what was to become Severn Trent and applied for a job at Coleshill incinerator and later moved to Minworth. He worked here for 20 years until his retirement and loved his job. Dad actually told me about the role he had at Minworth in 1981 when I was working in plumbing and heating which was good money in the winter but not in the summer! So when my dad mentioned the job, I applied – and never looked back.

“Ian came later, then my two children and also my wife worked here for a short time. It’s great that so many of my family have worked here, it’s very special.” Sadly, Albert passed away in 2018, but his family legacy has continued through Phil and Ian and family, who have seen millions of pounds invested at Minworth over the years.

“The site has changed dramatically since we started, including the use of technology,” said Phil, who is an Aston Villa season ticket holder with Ian. We had all our tradesmen here, from welders to blacksmiths, so it was a very busy site.

“We used to even have fishermen using the ponds and martial arts groups used to hold meetings at the old visitor center which later closed. There have been many memorable moments for me over the years. One of the most dramatic was during a huge storm in 1996 when I had to help rescue people stuck in their cars outside the factory as the streets were flooded. That’s what the local paper did at the time.

“Then there was the time a very upset woman called to say she feared she had accidentally flushed her engagement ring down the toilet. One of the team visited her home to take some details – and found them on the couch.” Ian switched careers from motor insurance after moving back to Birmingham from living in the south.

He works as a process technician in the activated sludge facility, helping to transform wastewater into the cleanest of effluents. The father-of-four said: “It’s really exciting work and no two days are the same.

“Decanted wastewater goes to the plant and then we make sure there are no impurities through the biological process in the aeration tanks. The best part of my job is solving problems and of course working with my brother, who I see almost every day. We’re a very close family and socialize together all the time, including watching Villa.”

Ian also showed how Severn Trent workers often go that extra mile for customers by helping a local school with building and renovation projects in his spare time. “It was great to give something back to the community,” he said. Phil also coached school football teams in his spare time and both brothers held community talks to explain exactly what was going on at Minworth.

Phil previously recalled some of the strangest things flushed down the toilet, including Dora the Explorer and Scooby Doo toys and even false teeth. Phil said: “Nothing surprises you working in this place. Of course, the only thing that should be flushed down the toilet are the three P’s – poop, pee and paper. The father-of-two has also been the public face of Minworth, appearing on radio and TV, including a starring role in the hit ITV documentary The Sewermen. He also played host to former Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles during a live broadcast on the site.

The brothers spoke as Severn Trent celebrates 50 years since it was founded in 1974. A series of articles is planned, entitled: ‘Our people, proudly serving our region for 50 years’. Speaking to the friendly and chatty brothers, it’s clear they have three passions in life – family, their beloved Aston Villa and Severn Trent.

Phil loves his job so much that he has become a regular tour guide around the factory for members of the public, including many Women’s Institute groups. He laughed: “They want to know, like everyone else, what kind of things are flushed down the toilet. Everyone is fascinated by the whole process of channeling.” Phil may say goodbye to Minworth when he turns 66 in January – or he may not.

He said: “I get my state pension in January next year but I will review it day by day. Even if I’m packing, I’d like to come in a day or two and do something, maybe tour with people.”

Looking back on his career, he said: “I can’t believe I’m 42, life goes by so fast. I worked four different jobs by the time I was 21 and probably would have kept moving.

“But I got here and found the job so enjoyable, the company was brilliant and of course the people were great. It has been a wonderful career and Severn Trent has been a great company to work for – and my whole family will agree.”