1853

South Staffordshire Waterworks Bill Receives Royal Assent

1854

Josiah Churchill appointed Company Secretary.

1855

Plans drawn up and tenders invited for Sandfields, Stowe & Minster Reservoirs, Tunnel, Main to Walsall and Walsall Reservoir

1856

First sods turned at Walsall and Lichfield

1857

Walsall Reservoir constructed. Frank James becomes a shareholder in the company and begins a relationship that is to last 67 years.

1858

Formal Opening of the Works by Lord Ward the Earl of Dudley, Walsall and Wednesbury receive the first water supplies

1859

Darlaston receives a water supply

1860

Tipton and West Bromwich receive water supplies

1861

Frank James becomes a director of the Company

1862

Dudley Waterworks taken over, Netherton and Oldbury receive water supplies

1863

Josiah Churchill embezzles receipts from sales of company shares (his name is subsequently chiselled off the wall plaque at Sandfields). Harold Haselden takes over as Company Secretary

1864

Takeover of Burton Waterworks. HQ established at 56 Union Passage Birmingham. John Robinson McLean resigns as Engineer to the Company

1865

William Vawdry, a Cornishman, appointed as Engineer in Chief

1866

Third pumping engine installed at Sandfields, Tunnel extended to Bourne Brook at Seedy Mill.

1868

Offices and stores established at Horsley Heath Tipton. James Steel, a company employee fined 5 shillings for being drunk on duty.

1869

20,000 houses now supplied with water

1870

Death of Richard Chawner, the first Company chairman

1871

Sampson Lloyd appointed Company chairman, Wood Green Pumping Station built at Wednesbury.

1872

Last water pumped from Parkes Hall Reservoir at Dudley.

1873

Fourth pumping engine installed at Sandfields. The company’s workforce is split into the Engineer’s and Secretary’s Departments, an arrangement that is to last for 105 years.

1874

Drought, severe shortage of water.

1875

Act of Parliament to raise capital to build Huntington and Moors Gorse Pumping Stations, Scout House and Rowley Reservoirs.

1876

Construction of Moors Gorse and Huntington Pumping Stations commenced. Land for Hanch Reservoir purchased.

1877

Halesowen supplied with water

1878

30,962 services laid. Total annual income from water rates £42,065/1/11 (£42,065.09)

1879

Moors Gorse Pumping Station and Scout House Reservoir completed. Hopwas Pumping Station built (for Tamworth Waterworks).

1880

Inauguration of new works at Moors Gorse, Huntington and Scout House Reservoir. Hanch Reservoir constructed

1881

Outwoods Nr.1 Reservoir at Burton on Trent built, Burton Depot opens

1882

Tipton Depot opens, Chase Terrace supplied with water. 81 miles of trunk mains and 189 miles of service mains now laid.

1883

Water charges now based on rateable values

1884

Nr.1 Pumping engine at Ashwood, near Kingswinford, commissioned.

1885

Storage tank installed at Cawney Hill near Dudley

1886

26a Paradise Street, Birmingham purchased for new Company HQ.

1887

Scout House Reservoir embankment collapses and floods nearby coal pits at Hednesford.

1889

102 workers on the company’s payroll. Holiday entitlement increased from one day at August Bank Holiday to include Christmas Day, Easter Day and Whit Monday.

1891

Fradley Pumping Station built

1892

Shenstone Pumping Station brought into commission.

1893

81,000 services now laid, average daily supply 7 million gallons. Act of Parliament to raise capital for Fradley, Shenstone, Ashwood and Bourne Vale Pumping Stations and Shire Oak Reservoir. First Sedgley Reservoir built.

1894

Foreman at Ashwood Pumping Station reprimanded by the Engineer in Chief for being seen drunk in public. Fradley Nr.1 engine begins pumping. Bourne Vale Pumping Station constructed.

1895

Death of William Vawdry. Henry Ashton Hill appointed as Engineer in Chief. Walsall Depot opens

1896

Coseley supplied with water. Total of 92,007 houses supplied. Population served – 565,000. Average daily supply 8.78 million gallons. Sharman, a Company employee, finds two gold rings while cleaning out Minster Pool. After several high court hearings he has to hand them over to SSWWCo.

1898

Average daily supply 9 million gallons, Hinksford Pumping Station, near Kingswinford and Springsmire Reservoir, Dudley built

1899

Barr Beacon Nr.1 Reservoir built. Drought conditions. Sutton Coldfield Depot opens

1900

Hinksford commences pumping water into supply

1901

Act of parliament to raise capital for Hinksford, Trent Valley, Brindley Bank, Pipe Hill and Maplebrook Pumping Stations. Springsmire Booster built. Harold Haselden resigns as Company Secretary and is succeeded by George Sparrow.

1902

Company commences long service awards. Work commences at Brindley Bank Pumping Station Rugeley.

1903

Company is 50 years old, Pipe Hill Pumping Station built.

1904

Cannock Depot opens

1905

Shavers End Reservoir covered, Brindley Bank Pumping Station Built.

1906

Parliamentary bill to chlorinate drinking water supplies rejected. Rumours spread that the Company is to be sold.

1907

Winshill Tower and Booster at Burton on Trent built

1908

Frank James resigns as chairman, Charles Beale succeeds.

1909

Act of Parliament requires SSWWCo. to compensate landowners for loss of water supplies arising from well and borehole abstraction.

1910

Turners Hill Tower and Cawney Hill Booster built at Dudley

1911

Romsley, near Halesowen, supplied with water. New pumping engine installed at Wood Green, Wednesbury.

1912

Unified scale of charges for water throughout the Company’s area introduced. Death of Charles Beale. Joseph Porter is the first employee to complete 50 years service.

1913

F H Lloyd appointed chairman, Act of Parliament for capital to construct Langley Reservoir, near Oldbury, as a replacement for Rowley Reservoir

1914

Maplebrook Pumping Station, near Burntwood, built. Company employs 212 workmen, average weekly wage is £1/7/0 (£1.35)

1915

Act of Parliament for capital to construct Somerford and Slade Heath Pumping Stations near Brewood. F H Lloyd resigns as chairman and is succeeded by H. K. Beale.

1916

Former chairman F. H. Lloyd knocked down and killed by a light steam locomotive driven by Henry Carnell.

1917

Henry Ashton Hill resigns as Engineer in Chief and is succeeded by Fred Dixon

1918

George Sparrow retires as Company Secretary and is succeeded by Joseph Broadley.

1919

Water supplied from Baggeridge Colliery to Sedgley Reservoir. Population served 733,955. Houses supplied 146,791. 4,220 metered supplies. 280 workmen employed, average wage £3/6/6 (£3.33)

1920

Staff Association formed. Joseph Broadley leaves the Company and is succeeded as Company Secretary by James Cornwell

1921

326 Employees on the payroll. The Company acquires a Prince Equator Crossless Sunbeam car for the Engineer in Chief.

1922

Act of parliament for capital to construct Little Hay, Slitting Mill, Prestwood, Sandhills Pumping Stations and Cawney Hill and Shavers End Nr.2 Reservoirs. Cawney Hill Reservoir built. Shire Oak and Wednesbury Reservoirs covered over. Sedgley Tanks installed.

1923

Somerford Pumping Station Built near Brewood, diesel engines used for motive power for the first time. Cheslyn Hay Waterworks taken over. Company superannuation scheme inaugurated.

1924

Slade Heath Pumping Station built near Brewood.

1925

27 Pumping engines in service with a combined total daily output of 22 million gallons. Population served 790,000. 158,000 houses supplied. 4200 metered supplies. 989 miles of mains in use. Bicycles first issued to Watermen.

1926

Turbo alternator installed at Wood Green, Wednesbury. Inauguration of Widows & Orphans, Mutual Thrift and Benevolent Funds

1927

Sandfileds modernised, new filtration plant. Prestwood Pumping Station built near Kinver, first large station to use electricity for motive power.

1928

Shavers End Nr.2 Reservoir built at Dudley

1929

Kinver Waterworks taken over.

1930

Gentleshaw Reservoir built and Scout House Reservoir abandoned. Little Hay Pumping Station built. Agreement to provide bulk supply to the City of Lichfield due to pollution of the Conduit Lands supply. Population served 898,000. 179,691 houses supplied. 5136 metered supplies. 1115 miles of main in use. James Cornwell resigns as Company Secretary and is Succeeded by Herbert Kirk. Site purchased in Sheepcote Street Birmingham for new HQ.

1931

Romsley Tower built near Halesowen.

1932

Slitting Mill Pumping Station, Rugeley built. Act of Parliament for capital to build Chilcote Pumping Station and to extend area of supply. Rolleston Water Works bought from Sir Oswald Moseley. Sheepcote Street offices occupied.

1933

News Review Magazine Launched

1934

Company library for employees inaugurated.

1935

Sandhills Pumping Station near Shire Oak and Pye Green Water Tower built.

1936

Act of Parliament for capital to build Kinver Pumping Station, Seedy Mill Borehole Pumping Station and Warley Tower. Walsall Nr.1 and Cawney Hill Nr.2 Reservoirs built. Huntington Pumping Station electrified.

1937

Chilcote built. River Blithe scheme conceived.

1938

Walsall Nr.2 Reservoir and Hanbury Tower built. Act of Parliament for River Blithe Scheme.

1939

Kinver and Seedy Mill Borehole Pumping Stations built. 28 Company employees called up for military service.

1940

Warley Water Tower built. Ministry of Health instructs all water undertakings to chlorinate water supplies.

1941

Trunk water mains in Wednesbury, Tipton and West Bromwich damaged by enemy air attacks.

1942

Population served 1,250,000. Average daily supply 31 million gallons.

1943

Authorisation given for construction of temporary treatment works at Seedy Mill, near Handsacre.

1944

Fred Dixon resigns as Engineer in Chief and is succeeded by R. A. Robertson

1945

1945 Water Act. H. K. Beale resigns as company chairman.

1946

A. H. S. Waters VC appointed chairman.

1947

Construction of Blithfield Reservoir commences. Seedy Mill Treatment Works commences pumping water into supply. Commemorative dinner held for the 108 company employees who enlisted in HM Forces during World War 2 of whom 13 died.

1949

First use of VHF mobile radio. Hayley Green scheme using water from the Elan Aqueduct commissioned.

1950

Barr Beacon Nr.2 Reservoir and Burnaston Booster near Burton on Trent built

1952

Total company employees = 946

1953

Blithfield Reservoir filled, submerging a water mill and shooting lodge.

1954

Herbert Kirk retires as Company Secretary and is succeeded by Aubery Tibbenham.

1955

Churchill and Smethwick pumping stations built.

1956

Seedy Mill Treatment Works in full operation.

1957

Anslow Booster near Burton on Trent built. Company provides temporary water supplies for the World Scouting Jamboree in Sutton Park

1958

Saxon Street Booster built at Burton on Trent.

1959

Hagley and Findern Pumping Stations built. A. H. S. Waters resigns as company chairman and is succeeded by Charles Burman. R. A. Robertson resigns as Engineer in Chief and is succeeded by Randal H. Taylor.

1960

Parliamentary Order obtained for development of River Severn Scheme. Yoxall and Kingston Boosters built.

1961

Harlaston booster built. Serious burst on railway main between Sandfields and Walsall at Hammerwich.

1962

Cookley, West Bromwich and Two Gates Pumping Stations built. Tamworth Water Works taken over.

1963

River Severn Parliamentary order confirmed and construction of Hampton Loade Treatment Works and Chelmarsh Reservoir commences. Wednesbury Booster built. Severe winter resulting in many burst mains. Rugeley Urban District and Lichfield Conduit Lands Water Undertakings taken over. Total company employees = 1063, highest ever

1965

Chapel Street Booster built near Dudley. Last bicycles issued to Watermen

1966

First water pumped from Hampton Loade. Tutbury Reservoir and Booster built. Sandfields modernised.

1967

Hampton Loade fully operational.

1968

Stowe and Minster Pools handed back to Lichfield. Uttoxeter Water Undertaking taken over.

1969

Major extensions to telemetry systems.

1971

Sedgley Reservoir completed. Railway main between Sandfields and Walsall abandoned.

1972

Last of the Company’s steam engines at Maplebrook shut down.

1973

New pumping station at Crumpwood built near Alton Towers.

1974

Reorganisation of Water Industry, new regional water authorities formed.

1975

Widespread drought, Blithfield Reservoir almost empty.

1976

Glascote Reservoir Nr.2 built at Tamworth.

1977

Transport Department takes over new premises in Bridgeman Street Walsall.

1978

New offices at Green Lane Walsall purchased. Aubery Tibbenham retires as Company Secretary and is succeeded by Ivan Wallis. Engineer’s and Secretary’s departments merged with James Lamont as General Manager

1979

Charles Burman resigns as company chairman and is succeeded by Edwin Thompson, who is also chairman of Wolverhampton and Dudley Breweries.

1980

James Lamont retires as General Manger and is succeeded by Bill Markham. First company staff move to Green Lane Offices.

1981

Company gets good report following Monopolies and Mergers investigation.

1982

Major reorganisation of Company following Coopers and Lybrand review, Bill Markham now Managing Director.

1983

Consumer Consultative Committee set up. Company Secretary John Harris is the first Company employee to go to Harvard Business School.

1984

Bill Markham retires as Managing Director and is succeeded by Jim Carter. First staff move into newly constructed multi-storey office block at Green Lane

1985

Sheepcote Street offices in Birmingham sold to Birmingham City Council. Green Lane multi storey office block formally opened by the Earl of Dudley the great grandson of Lord Ward who opened the original works in 1858.

1986

Fluoridation of water supplies commences. Company participates in National Garden Festival at Stoke on Trent.

1987

Overseal Reservoir and Booster built. New model bylaws introduced. 667 employees on the company payroll.

1988

First open day for the public held at Green Lane.

1989

The Company’s first denitrification plant constructed at Little Hay.

1990

Significant improvements to Company’s infrastructure to provide a supply to the new Toyota car plant at Burnaston near Burton on Trent

1991

Company converts to PLC status on 25 November.

1993

1995

Highest ever peak day demand of 472 Megalitres (104 Million Gallons) recorded

1996

Blithfield Education Centre Opened by Bill Oddie. Substantial investment at Seedy Mill Treatment Works on a dissolved air flotation plant and new pumps.

1997

Company enters into a voluntary agreement with the Environment Agency to cease abstraction via Hanch Tunnel, resulting in the abandonment of Sandfields Pumping Station.

1998

6 Megawatt power generation facility built at Hampton Loade Treatment Works. (Subsequently increased to 8 Megawatt). New area office built at Fradley Park.

1999

Water Industry Bill – No longer possible to disconnect customers for non payment and also directs Water Companies to provide free meters.

2000

Company enters into a £16M framework agreement with Purac Ltd. for the design and construction of major water treatment schemes up to 2004.

2001

Customer contact and water quality analysis operations are outsourced.

2003

HRH the Earl of Wessex unveils a commemorative plaque for the Company’s 150^th anniversary at Blithfield Hall. 358 employees on Company payroll.