In other news below:
-- EPA, DHS announce research on microbial risk assessment
-- U.Mass-Amherst, Adventus recognize future environmental science leaders
-- Gorman-Rupp reports increase in third quarter profits
-- Water coolers market in W. Europe expands by 6.4%
-- DHL airlifts water into S. Fla. to aid Wilma relief efforts
-- Environmental Grantmakers Association chooses new executive director
RWE may sell Thames Water -- Reports in Europe say utility wants to unload Kentucky American's parent -- LEXINGTON, KY, Oct. 28, 2005 -- A possible business deal half a world away is creating ripples in Lexington water politics. German and British news services have reported this week that RWE, the German utility giant, is preparing to spin off Thames Water, a British subsidiary. The reports are being followed in Lexington because Thames owns American Water, which owns Kentucky American Water. Whatever happens in Europe could become part of the continuing fight over whether the city should own the local water utility. American Water -- acquired by RWE in January 2003 -- operates water utilities in 18 states, largely in the North and Southwest. Based in Vorhees, N.J., it has revenues of about $2.1 billion and services over 18 million customers...
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In related news:
-- "Deutsche Bank Weighs RWE Water Assets IPO" (Dow Jones)...
-- "Thames Water to go to market as RWE eyes energy" (The London Times)...
-- "RWE plans to spin off Thames Water - sources" (Reuters)...
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Among other recent headlines:
• EPA, DHS announce research on microbial risk assessment -- WASHINGTON, DC, Oct. 28, 2005 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Oct. 24 announced the establishment of a jointly funded research center based at Michigan State University that will fill critical gaps in microbial risk assessment needed to support homeland security objectives. One grant of $10 million for five years was awarded to establish the center...
• U.Mass-Amherst, Adventus recognize future environmental science leaders -- Remediation biotechnology firm announces winners of its annual student award program -- AMHERST, MA, Oct. 28, 2005 -- Adventus Americas Inc., an international remediation biotechnology firm, joined the University of Massachusetts Amherst to recognize talented, emerging environmental scientists during the 21st Annual International Conference on Soils, Sediments and Water held here recently. Three $500 awards were given for the best student presentations from among 23 participants during the conference, which was presented by the Northeast Regional Environment Public Health Center and The School of Public Health. The judges included Carol Bois (Bois Consulting Company), Don Ochs (Legacy Environmental), Dr. Fayaz Lakhwala (Adventus Americas), Denise Leonard (University of Massachusetts), Chris Mitchell (ENSR International), and Mike Mueller (Adventus Americas)...
• Gorman-Rupp reports increase in third quarter profits -- MANSFIELD, OH, Oct. 28, 2005 -- The Gorman-Rupp Company reported record net sales of $58,980,000 for the third quarter ended Sept. 30, compared to $52,392,000 during the same period in 2004, an increase of 12.6%. Net income for the quarter was $2,675,000 compared to $2,056,000 during the same period in 2004, an increase of 30.1%. Earnings per share during the quarter were $0.25 compared to $0.19 during the same period in 2004...
• Water coolers market in W. Europe expands by 6.4% -- Percentage jump in unit installations, accompanied by 1.2% hike in cooler consumption, despite the bottled water market suffering a 4% decline in region -- DUBLIN, Ireland, Oct. 28, 2005 -- Research and Markets announced the addition of the latest Zenith International report: "West Europe Water Coolers Report 2005" to its offering. Despite poor summer weather in 2004, on the back of the exceptional summer weather in 2003, the European bottled water cooler industry still managed to register volume and unit sales growth, according to Zenith's latest report on this dynamic category...
• DHL airlifts water into S. Fla. to aid Wilma relief efforts -- Special shipment of bottled water to help meet immediate needs of local community in area of company's U.S. headquarters -- PLANTATION, FL, Oct. 28, 2005 -- As South Florida residents continue to contend with the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma, DHL, the world's leading global express delivery and logistics company, yesterday sent a dedicated Boeing 727 to the stricken region carrying a payload of approximately 44,000 pounds of bottled water to support relief efforts. The company's U.S. headquarters are located in Plantation, Florida -- at the heart of the area impacted by Wilma...
• Environmental Grantmakers Association chooses new executive director -- NEW YORK, Oct. 28, 2005 -- The Environmental Grantmakers Association (EGA) today announced the appointment of Dana Lanza as the organization's new executive director. She joins EGA after having served for eight years as the founder and executive director of Literacy for Environmental Justice, a youth empowerment and urban environmental education organization based in the industrialized neighborhood of Bayview Hunters Point in San Francisco...
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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Senate honor Severn Trent with export award" -- Also in this report (Oct. 27, 2005): Aquatech awarded desalination contract in Aruba; Flowserve exec named to WWEMA Presidents Council; India tannery wastewater treated with Koch membranes; American Water takes WEFTEC visitors underground in nation's capital; Emerson Process Management shows liquid analytical tools at WWFE; Beckhoff Automation Canada Ltd. officially established; Albemarle to raise prices of elemental bromine, hydrobromic acid; UK - Water supply situation improves, but more action needed; Steelworkers want DOE to reject DuPont bid for S.C. nuclear weapons plant cleanup; Anheuser-Busch donates canned water to aid Hurricane Wilma victims; Grace Davison wins technology award for petrochemical membrane applications; Blue Water selected as Idaho's Capstone Design Project; World liquid pump market to grow by nearly $7 billion by 2015...
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