BOND OF
BROTHERS Brothers Scot Pearce and Royce Parker have been in business together for 12 years, with a focus on doing what they can to help. AUTHOR: NICK WALKER
S
cot Pearce and Royce Parker used to talk about going into business together one day—but it ended up being forced on them in 2011, when Scot fell off a roof. Scot was running a one-man-van outfit and his brother Royce had only recently finished his plumbing apprenticeship. Scot says it was a textbook case of what not to do from a health and safety perspective. “We were heading out on a family trip, and I had to stop and look at a quick job. I put a ladder up against the house and climbed up onto the roof thinking, ‘This won’t take too long.’ Wrong! The roof was dusty from pollen, and I ended up slipping. “I slid all the way down, tore some of my fingernails off, tore about 20 metres of spouting off and bounced off the fallen ladder onto the ground. The ladder actually saved my life, because it was concrete below. Luckily, I only ended up fracturing my tailbone.” As a sole operator, being off the tools wasn’t an option for Scot. He called Royce,
who handed in his notice from his job and got on board ASAP. This eventually doubled their ability to service clients in West Auckland, and in the 15 years since Water to Waste’s inception, it’s grown to be an indemand plumbing and drainage outfit for commercial businesses, private customers, schools and film production companies.
Lights, camera, action “The film work is really cool,” Scot says. “It’s a lot of temporary bathrooms and kitchens for film sets and locations, paint and plaster wash stations, concrete production facilities... plus a lot more we can’t talk about!” It’s an area of plumbing that could be easy to overlook, but talking to Scot, it becomes clear just how much is involved. “You’ve got to facilitate all the extras and crew on sets and locations; they’ve got to be fed and provided with toilets etc. There can be recycled rainwater harvesting requirements if they’re in remote locations.
“Then you’ve got the greens department where you feed the grass and trees, so they stay alive. We’ve done mobile makeup and hairdressing facilities, plumbed inside rental trucks with fresh and wastewater holding tanks underneath.” With key team member Rory Hosegood, Water to Waste has developed its own Wicked Washroom service. Bespoke portable bathrooms are available to hire for bathroom renovations, functions, events and filming. They’re fitted with flushing toilets, gas water heaters, a full-sized shower and vanity. A plant room hides all the pipework and macerating pump. The Water to Waste team has changed over the years, employing up to 14 people plus contractors at one stage. The 11-strong team currently includes three Masterlink apprentices. Scot’s mostly off the tools, focusing on running the business, arranging and pricing the bigger projects, and handling areas like marketing and governance.
The Water to Waste team on a rare day when they were all together (except Masterlink apprentice Alana Zieba, who was on block course!).
34
nzplumber