Case study: Turning on the tap of water tank training

The H₂O Tank Doctor in Mount Tamborine has been working with domestic and small business clients since 1988. Cleaning and repairing water tanks as well as selling and servicing associated products like filtration systems or tank liners, requires a unique set of skills and has become a selling point for the business.

Founder, CFO and Operations Manager Jennifer McConnell said using specialised equipment, working safely in confined spaces, understanding how to work with concrete, metal, fibreglass or poly tanks and recognising and addressing signs of damage or water contamination are all in a day’s work for the team.

"The H₂O Tank Doctor has developed a training plan that covers most tasks required to be taught for water management services in both the domestic and commercial markets," Jennifer said.

"We deliver this plan to our staff and associated businesses that want to learn — including certified plumbers who also do not have a full picture from their apprenticeship program.

"We are expanding this program so that more people in South East Queensland have access to this training and so that water management services are treated with the respect they deserve."

The business currently employs seven people and regularly engages a few more contractors and is looking to grow its office and site personnel in the future.

"There is currently no training or certification available in our industry that covers everything new employees or contractors need to know," Jennifer said.

"We established our own training program and over the years we put dozens of young people through the initial part so they could get a sense of what work was like — how they should expect to be treated at work, what was expected of them at work.

"This program involves four levels. We have two young people completing the initial level now, then they could train to become a Tank Technician, then a Specialist Tank Technician and finally a Master Tank Technician.

"This was not recognised elsewhere so as a company we promoted our trainees within our business and offered recognition of their good works."

While only a small operator, the business' standing in the sector has seen them work with major clients like Schweppes, Spicer's Retreats and even Queensland's Parliament House, along with schools, high rise buildings and horse studs, which each have their own unique water needs.

Taking the time during COVID-19 to draft more comprehensive manuals for the program, The H₂O Tank Doctor is preparing to write a formal training package.

With water a key resource in many industries and vital to our lifestyle and liveability, ensuring water tanks are in good condition and the water is free from plant, animal or other contamination is important for safety, health and peace of mind and relies on having well-trained staff who can deliver high quality work.