From Pune to UK rivers: what Aishwarya’s intern work in water quality looks like.

Why this work matters

Aishwarya’s work starts with a public issue that is both technical and highly visible. When combined sewer overflows discharge into UK rivers, the effects can reach far beyond the outfall itself. River water quality can change quickly. Ecosystems can come under pressure. Communities and regulators want clear evidence on what is happening, what the risks are, and what needs to improve. 

At AtkinsRéalis, Aishwarya supports that assessment work from Pune, Maharashtra. She is an intern in the Water Management Consultancy team in the Pune office, supporting the UDM-facing Water Quality team. Alongside her internship, she is studying for a Masters in Geoinformatics at the Symbiosis Institute of Geoinformatics. That combination of academic study and day-to-day project work gives her a grounded view of how environmental analysis moves from theory into engineering decisions.

From Maharashtra to UK water decisions 

What makes Aishwarya’s experience specific is the link between where she is based and where the work has impact. From Pune, she contributes to water quality analysis that helps inform UK water company decisions on the impact of combined sewer overflows on rivers.

Her work focuses on assessing river conditions and pollution risk through data. That includes analyzing parameters such as BOD, COD, NH4, pH, and dissolved oxygen, which together help build a clearer picture of how overflow discharges may affect the receiving environment. She also supports river model building by considering river characteristics, pollutants, and other substances, then assessing risk levels linked to sewer overflow impact.

This is careful work, and Aishwarya describes the responsibility in practical terms. “Even small variations in data can influence design choices or compliance outcomes,” says Aishwarya Pednekar.

That line captures what the work really involves. The task is not only to process data. It is to understand what the data means in the context of environmental standards, treatment performance, and river health.

Technical work with visible consequences 

In Aishwarya’s role, analysis feeds into assessment-and-improvement work. If a river is shown to be at risk from overflow discharges, that evidence can support decisions on treatment improvements, storage options, spill reduction measures, and other interventions intended to reduce harm. 

The implications are environmental, regulatory, and practical. Sewer overflows can affect rivers, ecosystems, and public health. They can also influence where investment needs to go and how water companies respond to compliance requirements. Aishwarya’s contribution sits within that broader process. Her work in Maharashtra becomes part of a wider cross-team effort that supports decisions in the UK. 

Learning the shift from theory to practice

For Aishwarya, one of the most important parts of the internship has been seeing how textbook knowledge changes when applied to live engineering questions. Water quality work does not sit in isolation. It connects with hydrology, design, and environmental planning, with different teams contributing to a fuller understanding of the problem.

That has made the experience more than a technical exercise. It has shown Aishwarya how detailed analysis can support action on a high-profile environmental issue, and how work carried out in Pune can help shape better outcomes for UK rivers.

Ready to turn your learning into real-world impact? Explore early career opportunities at AtkinsRéalis and help shape a more sustainable future.