In other news below:
-- Aqua America closes two more water system purchases for 10 in 2006
-- Kan.'s Biosecurity Research Institute offers research, training for food safety efforts
-- Calgon Carbon's UV patent declared invalid
-- Cytec restructures polymer additives product line
-- Prism Visual Software wins Planet PDA award for MiniMate running on CE device
-- Odor management system ordered for New York City residuals waste transfer station
-- USSEC demonstrates green bio-based power generation to Italian delegation
-- Environmental Law Institute report shows mixed results for in-lieu fee mitigation
-- Pure Technologies pulls in $1.8 million in new contracts
-- Heritage Partners sells Castle Rock Industries to Alfred Karcher GmbH
-- PureTech Systems' video surveillance solution to protect Catalyst paper mill
-- GEM Inc. awarded $3 million contract from S. Calif. water district
-- Clearford announces departure of Wastewater Division CTO
• Water Design-Build Council created by leading industry engineering firms -- New organization focuses on benefits of design-build for water infrastructure -- WASHINGTON, DC, July 3, 2006 -- The country's leading providers of design-build services for water and wastewater treatment announced June 23 the formation of the Water Design-Build Council, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the development and rehabilitation of water and wastewater systems through the sound use of integrated design-build services in North America. Its goal is to enable municipalities to realize the full benefits of design-build by promoting best practices, said Mark Alpert, Water Design-Build Council president. The council's charter members include executives of leading water integrated design-build companies: Craig Goehring, Brown & Caldwell; Peter Tunnicliffe, Camp Dresser & McKee; Gary Meyerhofer, Carollo Engineers; Mark Alpert, CH2M HILL, Robert Andrews, Earth Tech, a division of Tyco International; Doug Lisak, HDR; Dave Herer, Metcalf and Eddy; Dan McConville, MWH; Finn Nielsen, Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies...
• Aqua America closes two more water system purchases -- First half 2006 brings total of 10 acquisitions -- BRYN MAWR, PA, July 3, 2006 -- Aqua America Inc. reported today the acquisition of two water systems in North Carolina, which brings the number of transactions closed through mid-year 2006 to 10. The two troubled water systems were acquired under a special state program that provides incentives for making required capital investments to address water quality, service reliability and water pressure problems. This included a water utility serving about 70 residents in the Coral Park community near Lincolnton in Lincoln County, where it will invest nearly $40,000 to build a new well and install new water main. Aqua America also purchased the water system serving the West Haven Mobile Home Community near China Grove in Rowan County from the Grove Supply Co. The system, which serves nearly 100 residents, will require more than $60,000 in capital improvements for a new tank, pipe, pumping equipment, electrical services and meters...
• K-State's Biosecurity Research Institute to provide research, training space for food safety and security efforts -- MANHATTAN, KS, July 3, 2006 -- The Biosecurity Research Institute, currently under construction on the Kansas State University campus, is a comprehensive biosafety level 3 facility that will provide scientists a secure location in which to study pathogens and pests that threaten animal and plant-based agricultural systems, and to develop intervention strategies to minimize impacts on the nation's food supply and economy. "Food production and distribution systems are often referred to as farm-to-fork systems; these systems are complex and integrated," said Jim Stack, institute director. "BRI will be the only containment research and training facility within the U.S. that integrates plant pathology, food safety, entomology, veterinary medicine and molecular biology, allowing for comprehensive research programs concerning high-consequence pathogens and pests that threaten our food production systems"...
Also see:
-- "Kansas State University researchers using GIS to locate sites for carcass disposal in case of bioterrorism attack"
-- "Center looking to bring together two factions in biosecurity - law enforcement and animal/plant health experts"
• Calgon Carbon's UV patent declared invalid -- PITTSBURGH, PA, July 3, 2006 -- The U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey rules on a summary judgment motion that Calgon Carbon's broad patent for use of ultraviolet light to prevent infection from Cryptosporidium in drinking water is invalid. The patent was challenged by three companies, including ITT's WEDECO division. Calgon Carbon intends to appeal the ruling, hoping to repeat a reversal it won when a Canadian court invalidated the patent there last year...
• Cytec restructures polymer additives product line -- WEST PATERSON, NJ, June 30, 2006 -- Cytec Industries announced today a restructuring of its polymer additives product line. The restructuring actions include permanently shutting down the manufacturing operations for two older technology polymer additive light stabilizer products produced at the manufacturing facility in Botlek, the Netherlands. Production of CYASORB® UV-5411 light stabilizer will be consolidated at Cytec's Willow Island, WV, facility. The remaining production of CYASORB UV-1084 light stabilizer is expected to cease by the end of the third quarter and Cytec will exit this product line. The shutdown of the polymer additive production in Botlek included a full review of the support and commercial infrastructure at the site and as a result of these actions about 65 jobs will be eliminated. An estimated pre-tax restructuring charge of $21.7 million will be included in our full year 2006 results...
• Prism Visual Software wins Planet PDA award for MiniMate running on CE device -- PORT WASHINGTON, NY, June 29, 2006 -- Prism Visual Software Inc. is a winner of this year's 2005 Planet PDA Product of the Year Award. Each year Planet PDA online magazine bestows its awards on companies that have demonstrated excellence in technological advancement and application refinements. The editors of Technology Marketing Corp.'s (TMC®) Planet PDA online magazine announced the winners earlier this month. MiniMate is Prism's mobile handheld solution for product delivery, route sales and service, and pre-order...
Also see: "C.V. Ice, McGowan Water bring drivers into 21st century with tungsten handhelds"
• Odor management system ordered for New York City residuals waste transfer station -- NEW YORK, NY, June 28, 2006 -- Bio-Organic Catalyst Inc. has received a contract to install an advanced odor management system to significantly reduce the noxious gases associated with sewage solids and municipal wastewater grease collections. The key technical solution to achieving superior odor elimination is the use of the company's proprietary patented bio-organic catalysts that are deployed through an automated sprayer system that deliver highly diluted coverage of the liquid bio-organic catalysts. Bio-Organic Catalyst has worked on numerous installations with New York City's Department of Environmental Protection (NYC DEP) using its bio-catalysts to address major solid waste and wastewater environmental challenges...
• U.S. Sustainable Energy Corp. demonstrates green bio-based power generation capabilities to Italian delegation -- TAMPA, FL, June 28, 2006 -- U.S. Sustainable Energy Corp. announced today, "We are currently in final negotiations with Cofitral S.p.A of Milan, Italy. Based on their inspection of our Port Gibson, MS, plant earlier this month, Dr. Attilio Rossini, chief engineer with Cofitral S.p.A is submitting a proposed joint venture between U.S. Sustainable Energy and Cofitral to the Kyoto certification board of Italy for approval of a $750,000,000, one-gigawatt green energy plant." Cofitral is a joint stock company which designs, implements and manages business in the environment, agriculture, energy, transportation and logistics sectors -- including the water treatment market...
• Environmental Law Institute report shows mixed results for in-lieu fee mitigation -- WASHINGTON, DC, June 27 -- The Environmental Law Institute (ELI) released the first-ever, comprehensive study of in-lieu fee mitigation today. "In-lieu fee mitigation" refers to a form of compensatory mitigation that allows developers and others to pay a fee to a third party to support conservation when they receive a Clean Water Act permit to dredge or fill wetlands and other waters. The study, conducted between July 2005 and June 2006, concludes that although few of the existing 38 in-lieu fee programs studied meet many of the basic standards for the practice, it may remain a legitimate and effective mechanism for supporting the national goal of "no net loss" of wetlands...
Also see: "Curtain may be closing on scientific water controversy"
• Pure Technologies pulls in four new contracts -- CALGARY, AB, Canada, June 23, 2006 -- Pure Technologies Ltd. has received notification of award for four significant contracts totaling over $1.8 million. Work will begin shortly on three separate projects in U.S. Northeast for owners of water and wastewater pipelines. This work includes P-Wave® inspection work, expansion of SoundPrint® acoustic monitoring systems and significant subcontracts for Openaka Inc., Pure's newest subsidiary. Work will also begin shortly to provide CableScan™ testing and continued SoundPrint acoustic monitoring for a current bridge client. It's expected that work from these four contracts will contribute $1.1 million in revenues in 2006. They're in addition to the recently awarded SoundPrint contracts for the Chesapeake Bay Suspension Bridge in Maryland and Forth Road Bridge in Scotland, also which will be completed in 2006...
• Heritage Partners sells Castle Rock Industries to Alfred Karcher GmbH -- Investment employed private IPO structure -- BOSTON, June 21, 2006 -- Heritage Partners has sold its portfolio company Castle Rock Industries Inc., based in Englewood, CO, to Alfred Karcher GmbH & Co. KG of Winnenden, Germany. Castle Rock Industries is a leading manufacturer of commercial and professional cleaning equipment and supplies. Its proprietary brand names include Windsor, ProChem, Century 400, TecServ and Graco. Castle Rock had revenue of $131 million in 2005. Alfred Karcher is a EUR 1.1 billion private company that specializes in development, production and distribution of commercial and retail cleaning technology and equipment. Its product line includes high-pressure washers, ice blasters, vacuum cleaners, sweepers and scrubber-dryers, as well as cleaning agents, vehicle washes, drinking water and wastewater treatment plants...
• PureTech Systems' video surveillance solution to protect Catalyst's Crofton Mill Deep-Sea Port facility -- PHOENIX, AZ, June 21, 2006 -- PureTech Systems Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pure Technologies Ltd. and a leading manufacturer of wide-area video surveillance solutions, today announced that it has been selected and is currently deploying its PureActiv™ surveillance solution at Catalyst Paper's Crofton Mill Deep-Sea Port facility in Crofton, BC, Canada, on Victoria Island near Vancouver. The installation allows for high integrity monitoring of key areas within water-based and land-based regions of the facility. The PureActiv™ system will provide Catalyst with around the clock, automated surveillance, detection and response through a series of fixed and Pan-Tilt-Zoom (PTZ) cameras...
• General Environmental Management Inc. awarded contract from Metropolitan Water District -- Southern California contract valued at $3 million over five years -- POMONA, CA, June 20, 2006 -- General Environmental Management Inc. (GEM), a leading environmental and waste remediation company, today announced it has been awarded a five-year contract worth $3 million from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California. GEM is providing services for the management of hazardous and non-hazardous waste from the public utility. Services include project oversight, labor, logistics, transportation and disposal services, training, and Environmental, Health, Safety (EHS) Consulting Services...
• Clearford announces departure of Wastewater Division CTO
OTTAWA, ON, Canada, June 19, 2006 -- Clearford Industries Inc. announced that Richard Connelly, chief technology officer (CTO) of the Wastewater Systems Division, will be retiring from the company effective this month. He has held the position since February 2005 and was the founding president and director of R.W. Connelly Associates Inc. and Innovative Sewage
Systems Inc., the predecessor company to Clearford. Connelly will remain as a director of Clearford. Bruce Linton, president and CEO, said he was instrumental in developing the Small Bore Sewer™ now gaining increased market acceptance for sewage collection for communities...
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