WaterBriefs: ChangeWave Research issues Water Industry Benchmark Survey
In other news below:
-- HDR to provide upgrade design services on Brandywine Filter Plant
-- Skanska acquires UK utilities network company
-- Corzine presents American Water unit with N.J. environmental award
-- Rain Bird's Fifth Intelligent Use of Water Summit set for Dec. 31
-- ACWA executive director honored by NWRA, WestCAS
-- Microsoft nominates Beckhoff Automation as Windows Embedded Gold Partner
-- Nanotechnology finding its way into water, wastewater treatment
-- GL&V contract worth close to $13 million for major gold, silver project in Mexico
• ChangeWave Research issues Water Industry Benchmark Survey -- ROCKVILLE, MD, Dec. 8, 2006 -- This report from ChangeWave Research, a subsidiary of Phillips Investment Resources, presents the findings of a recent ChangeWave Alliance survey on emerging trends and technologies in the water industry. The Water Industry Benchmark Survey was conducted from Nov. 1-8, and a total of 357 Alliance members participated -- including 122 who work for companies involved in the water industry. The survey findings point to an overall spending increase on water projects over the next 12 months -- with the greatest growth occurring in Asia and North America. Within the United States, three-in-five respondents believe State and Local governments and the private sector will all increase spending on water projects over the next 12 months. Water Infrastructure Repair and Replacement (+57) is seen as attracting the most spending in the next one to two years, according to respondents, followed by Wastewater Treatment (+30), while Desalination (-33) and Water Security (-20) are seen as attracting the least spending...
• Wilmington, Del., awards contract to HDR to provide treatment plant design services -- NORFOLK, VA, Dec. 8, 2006 -- The Omaha-based engineering firm will provide low-pressure membrane design services for the city's oldest water treatment plant, the Brandywine Filter Plant. Built in 1917, the plant has undergone several major upgrades and is one of two facilities providing finished water for 38,000 customers. The Brandywine Filter Plant is rated at 11 million gallons per day and draws its source waters from Brandywine Creek. Phase I of the project will focus on evaluating membrane system alternatives to retrofit the plant, located in downtown Wilmington. The evaluation includes incorporating six to 10 million gallons of treatment capacity utilizing low-pressure membrane technology within the plant's existing footprint, followed by pilot testing and procurement of the selected membrane system...
• Skanska makes strategic expansion in UK -- Acquires utilities networks company, Mcnicholas Plc, for nearly $100 million -- STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 8, 2006 -- Skanska is acquiring McNicholas plc, a United Kingdom company in the construction and servicing of power, gas and water utilities networks. The purchase price amounts to approximately GBP50 million, about SEK670 million or US$97.66 million, on a debt free basis. The company, with revenues of $214.85 million, will be consolidated from December. McNicholas plc is mainly active in London and southeastern England. The company is based in London and has about 1,300 employees. Last year the operating income amounted to GBP5.7 million, SEK76 million. Organizationally, McNicholas plc will be incorporated with Skanska UK's utilities operating unit...
Also see: "Skanska awarded environment assignment in New York for $183 million: It's been awarded an assignment to upgrade a water pollution control plant in Queens"
• American Water presented 2006 New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Award -- VORHEES, NJ, Dec. 8, 2006 -- The Applied Water Management Group of American Water was honored with the 2006 New Jersey Governor's Environmental Excellence Award on November 29, 2006. The Honorable Lisa P. Jackson, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), presented the group the award for development of a first-of-its-kind Reclaimed Water for Beneficial Reuse (RWBR) project at the Homestead at Mansfield active adult community, in Burlington County, NJ...
Also see: "Water reuse project earns American Water a N.J. Governor's Environmental Excellence Award -- Company recognized by Gov. Jon Corzine for first-of-its-kind residential water reuse project"
• Rain Bird's Fifth Intelligent Use of Water Summit examines public attitudes, behaviors surrounding global water conservation -- GLENDORA, CA, Dec. 8, 2006 -- Rain Bird Corp. recently announced its panel of experts for its fifth Intelligent Use of Water™ (IUOW) Summit, "Global Conservation Initiatives and Strategies: Shaping Attitudes and Changing Behaviors." The six-member symposium will convene from 2-4 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the Hilton Pasadena in Pasadena, CA. Summit panelists will include domestic and international environmental experts engaging in a lively discussion on public attitudes and behavior trends relating to outdoor water conservation. The IUOW Summit V will be moderated by Summit veteran Robert Glennon, professor at the University of Arizona's Rogers College of Law. Glennon is also the author of "Water Follies: Groundwater Pumping and The Fate Of America's Fresh Waters"...
Also see: "Rain Bird ET Manager Receives Perfect SWAT Score"
• ACWA executive director honored by NWRA, WestCAS -- Steve Hall receives awards at ACWA Fall Conference in Anaheim -- ANAHEIM, CA, Dec. 8, 2006 -- Steve Hall, executive director, Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) today was honored with awards from the National Water Resources Association (NWRA) and the Western Coalition of Arid States (WestCAS). NWRA President Norm Semanka presented the awards on behalf of NWRA's board of directors. Hall was recognized for his exceptional career in representing, supporting and assisting water users in California and the West in general, and was awarded with NWRA's "Lifetime Achievement" and "Water Buffalo" awards. The "Lifetime Achievement" is in particular recognition of Hall's tremendous contribution to NWRA and its members during his nearly 13 years with ACWA. The "Water Buffalo" is a special and relatively new award. Essentially, the award is for those individuals who are so respected by their peers for their knowledge and force of personality in the water business as to be referred to as a "Water Buffalo." Commissioner John W. Keys, III is the only other individual to receive the "Water Buffalo" award. Hall was also recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award from WestCAS, presented by the coalition's president, Larry Libeu. The award is in recognition of ACWA and Hall's support for WestCAS and its efforts on the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act...
• Microsoft nominates Beckhoff Automation as Windows Embedded Gold Partner -- Award further strengthens the technology partnership between Microsoft and Beckhoff -- MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 7, 2006 -- Microsoft has awarded Beckhoff the status of Gold Partner in the Windows Embedded Partner program. Gold status is the highest and most exclusive level of the Microsoft partner program -- in Europe, there are only 14 companies that have been awarded Embedded Gold status. With its PC-based control technology, Beckhoff Automation can boast long term experience and advanced technologies in the embedded segment. Its TwinCAT automation software enables the creation of real-time control systems under Windows XP Embedded and Windows CE. EtherCAT, the real-time Ethernet fieldbus technology developed by Beckhoff, is successfully deployed in combination with Windows operating systems. Beckhoff uses embedded operating systems in Industrial PCs for different performance classes -- products include modular Embedded PCs, compact Panel PCs and traditional Industrial PCs...
Also see:
-- "Beckhoff Automation takes over Embedded-Logic Design & More and BeDeHa"
-- "Brazil: Beckhoff expands on the southern hemisphere"
• Nanotechnology finding its way into water, wastewater treatment -- PALO ALTO, CA, Dec. 7, 2006 -- The Technical Insights Group at Frost & Sullivan will host its 2006 Quarterly Analyst Briefing Presentation on Dec. 13 at 11 a.m. EST. Highlights include a focus on developments and achievements happening in the field of nanotechnology with respect to waster and wastewater treatment. A detailed analysis of the impact of nanotechnology in these areas will be discussed. This briefing would benefit nanotechnology developers, membrane manufacturers and environmental service providers...
Also see:
-- "Building a Greener Future: Advances in North American Energy, Water and Building Facilities Management Markets"
-- "Microfiltration and Ultrafiltration Hold Huge Potential for the Desalination Pretreatment Market"
• GL&V awarded contract worth close to $13 million for major gold, silver project in Mexico -- MONTREAL, Canada, Dec. 7, 2006 -- Groupe LaPerriere & Verreault Inc. (GL&V) announces that its Process Group (Dorr-Oliver Eimco) has been awarded a contract worth close to CDN$15 million [US$13.05 million] for a world-class gold and silver project in Mexico. The contract is to supply, by December 2007, a major metallurgical flotation system consisting of 53 flotation cells of different sizes and types. The order includes 22 WEMCO® 257 m3 flotation cells which are among the largest mineral flotation machines ever built. Richard Verreault, President and Chief Operating Officer of GL&V, pointed out that this project will bring on stream one of the most important metallurgical flotation systems ever designed and produced by Dorr-Oliver Eimco...
***
For previous "WaterBriefs" reports, click here.
###