In other news below:
-- EPA, state, local partners to fund $50 million cleanup of Ashtabula River
-- Ecosphere, Pierce Manufacturing agree to make homeland security tactical water filtration truck
-- UK watchdog: Balancing act required as water firms show improved financial results
-- Calgon Carbon wins appeal in Canadian patent case
-- Watts Water Technologies to acquire Dormont Manufacturing Co.
-- Buffalo cost-saving water program featured at National League of Cities Conference
-- CarteGraph announces addition of five new clients
-- Lonza increases water treatment products prices
-- Pirnie VP appointed to Calif. state position
-- HWEA issues call for exhibitors to Hawaii conference
-- Southwest Water announces start of a $7 million annual contract
-- U.S. Microbics unit featured at WaterScienceNews.com
EDS, Black & Veatch unite to enhance global presence with IT services agreement -- EDS to manage technology infrastructure and expand IT capabilities for growing engineering, consulting and construction company -- PLANO, TX, & OVERLAND PARK, KS, Dec. 9, 2005 -- EDS and Black & Veatch, a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company, yesterday announced a seven-year strategic relationship, which includes a full information technology (IT) services agreement. The agreement provides Black & Veatch with expanded global IT capabilities, which will supply the needed IT foundation to help meet the growing global demand for energy, water, information and government services.
"This partnership creates a strategic fit that enhances our ability to meet our clients' needs in a more robust manner, at the same time it provides us with expanded global IT capabilities and further strengthens our ability to focus on our core business," said Len C. Rodman, Chairman, President and CEO of Black & Veatch. "EDS' global IT and industry capabilities and proven operational excellence complement our business attributes, provide us with a reliable and cost-effective solution, and enables BV Solutions Group to continue providing technology solutions to its clients."
EDS will manage the IT infrastructure for Black & Veatch's worldwide enterprise including desktops, servers, communication networks and software applications. EDS Agility Alliance partners will provide their products and ongoing technology development support.
"EDS has committed to go beyond IT in delivering services to Black & Veatch. We will use our experienced industry, technology and business development resources worldwide to help build upon its engineering, procurement and construction processes," said EDS U.S. Energy Industry Leader Mike O'Hair. "Like Black & Veatch, we equally value our people, processes and culture, and look forward to welcoming our new team members."
The new agreement also calls for EDS to manage applications development and maintenance, project support, desktop computers, and provide helpdesk and user support for desktops and networks for more than 7,000 employees in approximately 90 locations worldwide. EDS will also be responsible for the related asset management, procurement and third party provider relationships.
As part of the agreement, EDS will acquire selected assets and accounts of BV Solutions Group (BVSG), a subsidiary of Black & Veatch. EDS will continue to support and build upon BVSG services, which deliver IT services to clients throughout the United States.
"This new EDS relationship will allow professionals at both companies to align with their respective core technology and industry businesses," said Gerald J. White, who leads BVSG. "Clients of BVSG will see greater access and expanded technology solutions."
Approximately 280 Black & Veatch and BVSG professionals will join EDS and complement its growing Utilities Industry Group as well as continue to build a scalable global IT infrastructure at Black & Veatch.
With 150-plus utility clients in 17 countries, EDS works with the energy, water, chemical, oil and gas and telecommunications sectors around the world. For more than 30 years, EDS has helped utility clients improve operations through advanced technology and business processes.
Black & Veatch Corp. (www.bv.com) is a leading global engineering, consulting and construction company specializing in infrastructure development in energy, water, information and government markets. Founded in 1915, Black & Veatch develops tailored infrastructure solutions that meet clients' needs and provide sustainable benefits. Solutions include conceptual and preliminary engineering services, engineering design, procurement, construction, financial management, asset management, information technology, environmental, security design and consulting, and management consulting services. The employee-owned company has more than 90 offices worldwide. Black & Veatch is ranked on the Forbes "500 Largest Private Companies in the United States" listing.
EDS (www.eds.com) is a leading global technology services company delivering business solutions to its clients. EDS founded the information technology outsourcing industry more than 40 years ago. Today, EDS delivers a broad portfolio of information technology and business process outsourcing services to clients in the manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, communications, energy, transportation, and consumer and retail industries and to governments around the world. With $20.7 billion in 2004 revenue, EDS is ranked 95th on the Fortune 500.
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Among other recent headlines:
• EPA, state, local partners to fund $50 million cleanup of Ashtabula River, nation's largest Legacy Act cleanup -- CHICAGO, Dec. 9, 2005 -- EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson today announced a federal-state-local agreement to fund and carry out a $50 million cleanup of contaminated sediment from the Ashtabula River in Ohio. This cleanup project, under the Great Lakes Legacy Act of 2002, is the largest to date in terms of scope and cost and Ohio's first. The Legacy Act is a special initiative to clean up 31 pollution hot spots on the U.S. side of the Great Lakes...
• Ecosphere, Pierce Manufacturing agree to make homeland security tactical water filtration truck -- STUART, FL, Dec. 9, 2005 -- Ecosphere Technologies Inc. of Stuart, Fla., has signed an exclusive five-year agreement with Pierce Manufacturing Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Oshkosh Truck Corp., to manufacture, market and deliver the nation's first Tactical Water Filtration Truck (TWFT) to the military, homeland security and disaster recovery markets. Ecosphere's filtration system is the only high-volume filtration system to be tested and verified by the EPA through its Environmental Technology Verification Program to respond to a terrorist or natural disaster...
• UK watchdog: Balancing act required as water firms show improved financial results -- LONDON, Dec. 9, 2005 -- The champion for water and sewerage consumers in England and Wales has urged the industry to demonstrate to consumers that its financial success is matched by continuing improvement in service to consumers, according to a news release from the Consumer Council for Water posted to the Government News Network. Most water companies were able to announce significantly increased profits over the past few days as the city greeted a succession of positive half-year financial results. One company, South West Water, proposed a one-off payment of GBP 20 [US$35.5] for each of its customers as part of a wider financial restructure that will see GBP 200 million [US$355.02 million] returned to shareholders...
• Calgon Carbon wins appeal in Canadian patent case -- PITTSBURGH, Dec. 8, 2005 -- Calgon Carbon Corp. announced that the Canadian Federal Court of Appeal allowed its appeal and set aside a decision rendered by a lower court in June 2005 that declared invalid the company's patent for the use of ultraviolet light to prevent infection from Cryptosporidium in drinking water. As a result of the appeal court's decision, the case will move forward to trial in April 2006 to determine the merits of Calgon Carbon's claim that the City of North Bay, Ontario, Canada, infringed its patent and Trojan Technologies Inc. induced that infringement...
• Watts Water Technologies to acquire Dormont Manufacturing Co. -- NORTH ANDOVER, MA, Dec. 8, 2005 -- Watts Water Technologies Inc. announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire Dormont Manufacturing Co., of Export, Pa., in a stock purchase transaction worth $94.5 million. With expected 2005 sales of $56.5 million, Dormont is a provider of flexible stainless steel connectors for natural and liquid propane gas connectors. It's a leader in commercial food service applications in North America and the United Kingdom. It also works with appliance OEM's to provide internal component assemblies and private label gas connectors, which are sold under the OEM brand with the appliance in multiple leading retails chains...
• Buffalo cost-saving water program featured at National League of Cities Conference -- CHARLOTTE, NC, Dec. 8, 2005--Partnering with the private sector has saved Buffalo $21 million over the last six years, according to Joseph Giambria, public works commissioner for the city of Buffalo and representative of the Buffalo Water Board, at a workshop held at the National League of Cities annual Congress of Cities. In front of a national audience, Giambria described how the city's work with American Water and local unions saved taxpayer funds through operational and financial improvements while operating, maintaining and managing the Buffalo water system...
In other news: "Local, state, federal officials discuss emergency preparedness at Congress of Cities"
• CarteGraph announces addition of five new clients
DUBUQUE, IA, Dec. 8, 2005 -- CarteGraph has added five new clients to its growing list of organizations looking to achieve better efficiencies. The town of Corte Madera, CA; EnTech, Inc. of Wyoming; city of Hemet, Calif.; Kaufman County, Texas; and Navarro County, Texas, have joined the CarteGraph family...
• Lonza increases water treatment products prices -- ALLENDALE, NJ, Dec. 8, 2005 -- Effective Jan. 1, or as contracts allow, Lonza will increase prices on products sold into the Water Treatment, Wood, Household, Industrial & Institutional, Personal Care and Functional markets by 5 -- 10%. The product lines affected include Halohydantoins and other Hydantoin derivatives, Quats, Amines, Alkyl Chlorides, Surfactants and other specialty biocides and preservatives. The company cites the continued increases in raw material transportation and energy related costs through 2005 as cause for the action...
• Pirnie VP appointed to Calif. state position -- WHITE PLAINS, NY, Dec. 8, 2005 -- Deborah Neev, a vice president in Malcolm Pirnie's Orange County, Calif., office, has been appointed by California Gov. Schwarzenegger to the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board. A resident of Laguna Beach, Neev serves as a Commissioner for the Laguna Beach County Water District and is on the board of directors for SchoolPower and the Laguna Beach Little League. She also is a member of the Association of California Water Agencies, serving on its Groundwater Committee...
• HWEA issues call for exhibitors to Hawaii conference -- HONOLULU, Dec. 8, 2005 -- The Hawaii Water Environment Association (HWEA), a member section of the Water Environment Federation (WEF), invites you to participate as an Exhibitor at its 28th Annual Conference, Feb. 9-10 at the Hawaii Convention Center in Honolulu. Prices for "additional fee" items may increase after Dec. 15...
In other Hawaii news: "Mayor signs budget bills into law"
• Southwest Water announces start of a $7 million annual contract -- LOS ANGELES, Dec. 8, 2005 -- Southwest Water Company announced the start of a contract to operate, manage and maintain a water treatment facility in Burbank, Calif. The facility supplies approximately 30% of Burbank's daily water needs, a city with a population of just over 100,000. The contract is structured in a series of five renewable one-year increments, each valued at approximately $7 million. In addition to daily operation of the plant, Southwest Water is responsible for preventive and corrective maintenance...
• U.S. Microbics unit featured at WaterScienceNews.com -- CARLSBAD, CA, Dec. 8, 2005 -- U.S. Microbics Inc. announced that Laurie Romag, manager of West Coast Fermentation Center, a wholly owned subsidiary, is featured in an interview in the current online edition of WaterScienceNews.com. The interview provides insights into the beneficial role of microbial bioremediation in cleaning up pollution, improving water quality, and other applications. She's widely recognized for her expertise in formulating unique blends of microbes that eliminate a wide range of toxic contaminants...
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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: Pall technology verified to remove arsenic from drinking water below 2 ppb" -- Also in this report (Dec. 7, 2005): ServicePower to offer turnkey warranty field service program for Sylvan Source; Hector Escamilla Jr. elected president of Trinity River Authority Board; Research and Markets report sees potential for real growth in Europe's water market; Latin America infrastructure event to support New Orleans recovery; American Water offers unique O&M services to municipal leaders at NLC Congress; Water Partnership Council workshop on public-private partnerships at Congress of Cities; Nalco increases prices for sizing, silicone-based chemistries to the paper industry; McDATA disaster recovery solution protects L.A.'s water, power supply; Aqua America unit closes $2.2 million purchase of N.C. wastewater system; EPA, Army Corps, NJDOT launch Passaic River dredging, decontamination test project; Siemens heating, cooling plant to save Chaffey College over $12 million in costs; PNM Resources, N.M. parties agree on Afton Generating Station build-out, rate recovery; Emerson wins $20.2 million contract to digitally automate Lithuanian power station; Sutron receives notice of Indian contract award for $4.56 million; Equipment & Systems Engineering holds seminar for Guatemalan ministry of mining, energy; URS to provide dam safety services to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Division of Engineering; Parsons expands in Europe with office opening in Cork, Ireland that creates 80 new jobs; American Ecology names environmental expert VP of hazardous waste operations...
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