WaterBriefs: U.S. provides assistance to flood victims in Asia

Dec. 28, 2006
Also in this report: Boguchanskaya Hydro Power Plant water turbine contract awarded; N-Viro buys Headwaters' Florida interest; ENSR names China operations director; Mid-Atlantic cites stormwater needs; AWWA - perchlorate dropped from UCMR2; JMAR joins NASDAQ; ENPAR engages senior water executive; UK's Defra seeks views on surface water control proposals; Teradata enterprise software aids SABESP profitability; CG/LA releases first-ever infrastructure ranking of Latin American countries...

In other news below:
-- Contract awarded for water turbines at Boguchanskaya Hydro Power Plant
-- N-Viro International announces acquisition of Florida interest
-- ENSR names China operations director
-- Mid-Atlantic Associates cites stormwater needs of industrial, retail site managers
-- AWWA reports perchlorate dropped from UCMR2
-- JMAR Technologies joins NASDAQ
-- ENPAR engages senior water executive as market development consultant
-- UK's Defra seeks views proposals to control dangerous substances in surface water
-- SABESP improves profitability with Teradata Enterprise Warehouse
-- CG/LA releases first-ever infrastructure ranking of Latin American countries

U.S. provides assistance to flood victims in Indonesia -- WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 28, 2006 -- The U.S. Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has provided $100,000 to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to support the Indonesian Red Cross' ongoing emergency flood response efforts on Sumatra Island. On Dec. 26, U.S. Charge d'Affaires, John Heffern issued a disaster declaration due to the impact of flooding caused by heavy rains in the country.

Heavy rains throughout the month of December led to widespread flooding in Aceh, North Sumatra, and Riau provinces on Indonesia's Sumatra Island. According to UN and U.S. Embassy reports, the flooding has killed more than 120 people and affected as many as 250,000 in several districts throughout the area, particularly in Aceh Province, where numerous non-governmental and international organizations continue to work on the recovery from the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Flooding and landslides have blocked several roads leading to affected areas, limiting humanitarian access and hampering rescue and relief efforts. The Government of Indonesia has identified food, safe drinking water, plastic sheeting, tarpaulins, and general relief supplies as priority needs and has provided assistance in the aerial transport of emergency relief items. Although water levels in many affected areas have reportedly begun to recede, weather forecasts anticipate additional rain in the coming days.

USAID will continue to monitor the situation through its mission in Indonesia and its regional office in Thailand and provide updates as necessary.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years. For more information about USAID's emergency humanitarian assistance programs, click here.

Also see:
-- "Indonesia: Two Years After the Tsunami, Aceh Faces Record Floods"
-- "U.S. Announces $125 Million Award to Improve Health Systems in Developing Nations"
-- "U.S. Provides Emergency Flood Assistance to Haiti"
-- "U.S. Provides Emergency Typhoon Assistance to Vietnam"
-- "U.S. Provides Emergency Assistance to the Philippines"

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Among other recent headlines:

Tender results for sale, delivery of water turbines to Boguchanskaya Hydro Power Plant announced -- MOSCOW, Russia, Dec. 28, 2006 -- HydroOGK and RUSAL today announce the results of a tender to supply water turbines for the Boguchanskaya Hydro Power Plant. The winning bidder is Russia's JSC Power Machines. In accordance with the signed contract, Power Machines will supply nine water turbines with a capacity of 339 MW to the Boguchanskaya Hydro Power Plant. The contract covers design, testing, manufacturing, transportation and supervision of installation. Delivery is expected to begin in 2008. The total contract cost amounts to $114.2 million. The Boguchanskaya HPP on the Angara River is the largest power facility under construction in Russia at the present time. As of today, the dam's concrete face reaches to between 169 and 181 m, and the supporting rock embankment -- 151 m (the dam's design elevation is 208 m). Construction works alone for the dam employ over 4,000 people. Financing of the HPP's construction in 2006 will equal $222.5 million. Completion of the Boguchanskaya HPP is a key step toward creating the Boguchanskoye Energy and Metals Complex, which will also include an aluminium smelter that is expected to become a core consumer of the power generated by the HPP. The project is being carried out on an equal basis by JSC HydroOGK and RUSAL...

N-Viro International announces acquisition of Florida interest -- TOLEDO, OH, Dec. 27, 2006 -- N-Viro International Corp. announced the company's board of directors has unanimously approved a contract to purchase Headwaters Inc.'s 52.5% ownership share in Florida N-Viro. This acquisition will now give N-Viro International a 100% ownership of Florida N-Viro. Headwaters and N-Viro International will continue a relationship in Florida, as Headwaters will continue to supply Florida N-Viro with alkaline admixture materials while N-Viro continues operations. The Florida unit is expected to experience an increase of gross revenue for 2007 of approximately 40%...

AECOM unit names China operations director -- Feng Weiqing to lead ENSR effort expanding international business outreach to China, multinationals -- SHANGHAI, China, & WESTFORD, MA, Dec. 27, 2006 -- Feng Weiqing has joined ENSR as director, China Operations. A unit of AECOM, ENSR is a leading global environmental services firm. Based in ENSR's Shanghai Office, Weiqing is responsible for all operational activities in China, as well as business development with key clients. ENSR has a rapidly expanding presence in China with four offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shanghai. A geologist, Weiqing has over 15 years of experience in environmental site assessments, remediation and waste management, and environmental, health and safety compliance. Before joining ENSR, Weiqing was the general manager of MHW Shanghai Operations, and led a major EHS consulting and wastewater EPC practice. He was also one of the founders of ENVIRON China...
Also see: "New Direction for ENSR in the United Kingdom, ENSR and RSK Form Independent Operations"

Stormwater management more critical than ever to industrial, retail site managers -- 'Don't forget about stormwater management' -- RALEIGH, NC, Dec. 27, 2006 -- Whether you're an industrial maintenance or retail store manager, one of your many responsibilities may be to keep your property compliant with environmental rules and regulations. From waste management to vapor intrusion, the multitude of compliance-related issues can be daunting. It therefore comes as no surprise that for most retailers, the issue of stormwater management has not always been a top priority and was not addressed as effectively or as early as it should have been, reported Environmental Expert in a January e-newsletter article from Mid-Atlantic Associates. Now, however, with the recent heavy flooding in the northeast drawing attention to the issue, stormwater management is in the forefront of many retailers' minds. Add to that the federal and state fines being applied to major retailers for neglecting stormwater issues on their properties and the result is an increased awareness of the need for stormwater management. Consequently, retail store maintenance managers are paying closer attention to stormwater management and planning more effective management and maintenance programs to avoid fines and improve environmental conditions in their communities...
Also see: "Wastewater Wars: Reuse Projects in Texas"

AWWA - Perchlorate dropped from UCMR2 -- DENVER, CO, Dec. 25, 2006 -- Some 4,000 community and nontransient-noncommunity water systems will have to conduct a year's worth of monitoring for up to 25 unregulated contaminants under a final rule signed Dec. 20 to implement USEPA's second round of unregulated contaminant monitoring, according to the latest edition of WaterWeek from the American Water Works Association. As urged by AWWA, the final rule does not require utilities to look again for perchlorate as was proposed. Utilities monitored for the rocket fuel chemical during the first UCMR cycle using a method sensitive to 4 microgram/L and had objected to USEPA having proposed to do so again using a more sensitive method given that the agency has established a drinking water equivalent level of 24.5 micrograms/L. Dropping perchlorate from the rule opens the door for USEPA to make a preliminary determination whether to regulate the contaminant, which is among those on the second Contaminant Candidate List. That determination is expected any day now...

JMAR joins NASDAQ -- JMAR common stock to be quoted initially on Pink Sheets, followed by trading on OTC Bulletin Board -- SAN DIEGO, Dec. 22, 2006 -- JMAR Technologies Inc., a leading innovator in development of laser-based technology and x-ray processes for imaging, analysis and fabrication at the nanoscale, announced the receipt of a notification from Nasdaq following its appeal to a Nasdaq Listing Qualifications Panel on Dec. 14 that the common stock of JMAR will be delisted from The Nasdaq Capital Market effective with the open of business on Dec. 26. The Nasdaq notice stated that the Panel's determination was based on JMAR's previously announced failure to satisfy the $1 bid price requirement and the $2.5 million shareholders' equity requirement. JMAR's flagship product, BioSentry™, is a contamination warning system for waterborne microorganisms...

ENPAR engages senior water executive as market development consultant -- Options granted to consultants -- GUELPH, ON, Canada, Dec. 22, 2006 -- Dr. Gene Shelp, president and CEO of ENPAR Technologies Inc., welcomed Ram Narayanan as a market development consultant to the company, which specializes in electrochemical treatment of wastewater and drinking water contaminated by metals or nutrients, i.e., nitrate/ammonia associated with the mining, metal processing, chemical, agricultural, municipal and waste management sectors. Narayanan has over 31 years in the water industry and with wastewater treatment technologies and equipment. He's presently a partner and executive vice president in The Reservoir Fund, a New York-based company dedicated to investments in the water sector. Before that, he was vice president of the Water Treatment Division of Layne Christensen Company, with responsibility for integrated ground water services. He also served as executive director of strategic planning for Aqua-Chem Inc., a Wisconsin-based company involved in thermal desalination and water purification...
Also see: "Successful Laboratory Testing of Arsenic Contaminated Water from Abandoned Mine"

Views sought on new Defra proposals to control dangerous substances in surface water -- LONDON, Dec. 21, 2006 -- Proposals for dealing with hazardous substances found in surface waters are published today by the United Kingdom's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). The Defra consultation follows publication in July of a European Commission proposal for a new Water Framework Directive daughter directive on Priority Substances - 33 of the most persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic substances on current assessment. It also seeks comments on Defra's regulatory impact assessment (RIA). Views are sought particularly from the chemicals, ports, water and agricultural sectors. Comments on the environmental benefits and cost implications of the proposals will inform the UK's position when substantive negotiations begin in Europe in 2007...
Also see: "United Utilities pleads guilty to charge of supplying water unfit for human consumption"

SABESP improves profitability with Teradata Enterprise Warehouse -- DAYTON, OH, Dec. 21, 2006 -- Teradata, a division of NCR Corp., announced that Companhia de Saneamento Basico do Estado de Sao Paulo (SABESP), one of the largest water and waste treatment service providers in the world, has decided to expand its Teradata enterprise data warehouse. SABESP serves the metropolitan region of Sao Paulo, Brazil, more than 300 cities, and sparsely inhabited areas. SABESP first deployed its Teradata® Warehouse in 2005. The current expansion will be completed by year's end to enable the use of new applications and allow access by 500 concurrent users from various divisions including: commercial services, human resources, parts supply warehouse, and operations. Using Teradata technologies, SABESP has implemented a new self-regulating culture within its business units called Avaliacao de Controles e Resultados (ACR - "Evaluation of Regulating Processes and Results"). The business intelligence from the Teradata Warehouse has enabled SABESP top management to recognize opportunities to improve profitability and operating margins. They can better analyze business unit results and the performance of individual managers, and take appropriate action...

CG/LA releases first-ever infrastructure ranking of Latin American countries -- 'Rankings: The Business Report™' available Dec. 22 -- WASHINGTON, DC, Dec. 19, 2006 -- CG/LA Infrastructure LLC, the world leader in strategic infrastructure consulting, announced today the release of the first-ever infrastructure ranking of Latin American countries. "Our aim in ranking Latin American countries is two-fold: first, to give countries a chance to measure the quality and pricing of their infrastructure against Latin America and globally; and second, to provide business executives and policymakers with critical intelligence necessary for high-level decision-making," said Norman Anderson, CG/LA President & CEO. 'Rankings: Infrastructure Competitiveness in Latin America' assesses the infrastructure competitiveness of 23 countries, across four sectors, utilizing 37 separate variables. Chile ranked No. 1 overall in the hemisphere, and was also first in the quality and price of its transport and water/wastewater infrastructure. Chile invests 5-6% of GDP in infrastructure, and has done so for the last 10 years, whereas the rest of the region invests only an average of 1.5% of GDP in infrastructure. The total annual size of the Latin American infrastructure market is $35-$40 billion -- a figure that under CG/LA's low scenario will rise by at least 20%/year over the next five years. Meanwhile, Mexico is the regional leader in the critical area of electricity infrastructure, but is significantly under-invested in other areas -- finishing 5th overall, including 7th in transportation infrastructure, 17th in water/wastewater and 8th in digital infrastructure. 'Rankings' shows that infrastructure is a significant drag on the Mexican economy, and needs to be a central area of focus for the incoming Calderon government...

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For previous "WaterBriefs" reports, click here.

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