The Department boasts a capable and committed workforce across all disciplines. In depth training programmes for our (4 396) staff ensure we continue to meet the needs of customers effectively. Our in-house training unit focused on areas of water treatment, safety and emergency handling, producing a total of 12 528 training man days at a cost of $2.1 million. Workplace accident statistics show that we are achieving a consistently low accident rate on water works contracts – well below the safety limit set by Government for public works contracts.

Strong and effective communications continue to grow between management and staff at all levels. The Departmental Consultative Committee and its sub committees provide useful forums for the exchange of ideas on issues of common concern. Regular meetings have been held with staff unions and senior officers regularly visit individual offices and work sites to familiarise themselves with projects and to motivate staff. All supervisors are encouraged to consider productivity enhancement and service delivery improvements. As a result, a number of innovative ideas that assist our operations have been considered, trialled and implemented with impressive service and operational improvements.

Our partnerships with academic institutions and private sector companies on research and development projects has led to strong collaboration on technological developments and newly created applications. Our culture of innovation has strengthened confidence at all levels and many ideas proffered by staff during the year to improve aspects of our work have been explored and, where practical, introduced. An outstanding example of our home grown ability to innovate is the development by staff of a wave-powered cleaning device for keeping the salt water intake screens operational round the clock and free from blockage at seafront pumping stations.

To facilitate staff understanding of the work of different sections and units within the Civil Service, a series of experience sharing sessions were organised on meter reading, safe practices, customer privacy and corruption prevention.

A technology transfer workshop and training group, formed in 2010 to focus on increasing knowledge of water treatment, conducted seminars, design, treatment processes and the operation of the treatment plants. Technological knowledge has been shared and five technical visits to local or overseas water treatment works were made by some of the 50 group members during the year. The Department's engineering consultants have also continued to transfer technical knowledge to staff.

A cross-posting scheme that sends engineers from the Department to other Government departments to broaden exposure and give staff a richer experience has continued into its fourth year, Engineers from all areas can apply for a cross posting position which normally lasts for a two year term. The Department believes that the scheme helps staff succession planning and offers an alternative environment for people to demonstrate initiative and capabilities.

A review of the programme was conducted early in 2012 and feedback from participating engineers and their peers was generally positive.