WaterBriefs: Guyana Water Inc. goes live with DSTi's Billing Solution

In other news below:
-- At $19 billion by 2010, filter cartridge market to be third industrial
-- New GE Plastics product family to cut CO₂, waste, petrochemical use
-- Website launched for Pittcon 2007
-- JWC wins two new technology patents, WEF award
-- Engelhard chlorine dioxide-release technology approved for use in wells, cisterns
-- Atlantium announces Ilan Wilf as new CEO
-- AMEC wins environmental contract at Scripps Institution of Oceanography
-- Black & Veatch names vice president of corporate development
-- New study to assess hurricane impact on coral reefs
-- Foster Wheeler to design, supply CFB boiler for Solvay subsidiary in Bulgaria
-- New USGS website asks 'Do you know the hazard in your backyard?'
-- Bentley named world's No. 2 provider of GIS/geospatial software in new study
-- Long Beach school district picks ET Water smart controllers for water conservation

• Guyana Water Inc. goes live with DSTi's Billing Solution -- HiAffinity offers advanced customer billing and management information -- BOSTON, July 27, 2006 -- Guyana Water, a public utility responsible for providing water and sewerage services to customers throughout Guyana, today announced the implementation of HiAffinity, a tailored customer billing and management solution from DST International (DSTi). The software will streamline processing times and provides a more intuitive customer interface, making it possible for customers to receive water bills and requests for new payment arrangements at precise times of year and in a timely manner. It will enable the standardization of billing arrangements, cash collections and debt recovery, which will improve Guyana Water's cash flow position...
Also see: "Sutton & East Surrey Water scoops the Utility ACE Award for best CIS Initiative in Europe for its Virtual Call Centre"

• At $19 billion by 2010, filter cartridge market to be third industrial -- NORTHFIELD, IL, July 27, 2006 -- Two-thirds will be in commercial and residential sectors. The market for cartridges for liquid filtration is rapidly changing primarily due to the increased demand in these last two sectors. Nevertheless strong growth in biotechnology, electronics, power, desalination and nanotechnology will assure solid growth in the industrial sector as well. These predictions are included in the online continually updated, "Cartridge Filters World Markets," published by the McIlvaine Company...

• GE Plastics launches new product family to cut CO₂, waste, petrochemical use -- New high-tech Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins for automotive launched in Japan, underscoring that nation's environmental leadership -- TOKYO, July 27, 2006 -- Complementing Japan's environmental leadership in responsible automotive manufacturing, GE Plastics today celebrates two significant additions to its ecomagination portfolio: Valox iQ and Xenoy iQ resins. The new products were developed as a result of a successful two-year initiative at GE Plastics that examined the company's manufacturing processes to redefine how its products can be made to be cleaner and more environmentally responsible than traditional materials. The resins are essential elements of an environmentally progressive resin portfolio developed as part of GE's ecomagination initiative. For global automotive manufacturers, including industry-leading Japanese OEMs, the new resins offer options to address three critical environmental concerns: conserving energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing post-consumer waste...

• Website launched for Pittcon 2007 -- PITTSBURGH, PA, July 27, 2006 - The Pittsburgh Conference announces the launch of a totally re-designed website for Pittcon 2007 -- www.pittcon.org -- with improved navigation enabling direct access to key information about the conference and expo and an overall improved appearance and design. The website relays vital information to Pittcon conferees, exhibitors, and media representatives. Other improvements to the site include an enhanced Media Center and the addition of an International Travel section, a much requested photo gallery, brand manual, and a glossary of terms. The new site will be continually updated as new information regarding Pittcon 2007 becomes available. The site was developed collaboratively by The Pittsburgh Conference and H2, a Pittsburgh-based company providing integrated marketing and technology solutions...

• JWC granted two new technology patents -- COSTA MESA, CA - JWC Environmental is pleased to announce it has received two U.S. patents (Nos. 7,080,650 and 7,081,171) for its screenings washer technology. The patented technology is incorporated in the award winning Screenings Washer Monster^® (SWM), which grinds, washes and compacts solids removed from wastewater, producing a cleaner, drier and virtually odor free discharged material. The SWM includes a dual shafted Muffin Monster^® grinder that preconditions captured solids by reducing their size to allow the washing system to remove soft organics entrained in trash and rags. Soft organics are washed back into the plant flow where they belong while unwanted debris is compacted and dewatered, then discharged into a dumpster, ready for landfill disposal or incineration...
Also see: "JWC's Monster Separation System wins 2006 WEF Innovative Technology Award"

• Engelhard chlorine dioxide-release technology approved for use in wells, cisterns -- ISELIN, NJ, July 26, 2006 -- A unique chlorine dioxide-release agent from Engelhard has secured a new registration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for disinfecting drinking water in wells and cisterns. Engelhard Aseptrol^® chlorine dioxide-release technology has been approved for disinfection of drinking water in these individual water systems. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 45 million Americans use wells and cisterns as their main water source...
Also see: "Engelhard technologist elected to board of Canadian research group: Elise Mophett to serve as Alberta Sulphur Research Ltd. director"

• Atlantium announces Ilan Wilf as new CEO -- Veteran business development specialist joins creators of innovative disinfection technology -- HAR TUV, ISRAEL, July 26, 2006 -- Atlantium, the pioneer of water purifying Hydro-Optic Disinfection™ (HOD) technology, is pleased to announce that it has secured the services of Ilan Wilf as its chief executive officer. Atlantium's technology is based on a propriety medium pressure, high intensity UV lamp and advanced fiber-optic principles. With installations across Europe and the Middle East, it's field-proven in several industries. Wilf most recently served as vice president of business development for Tetra Tech Inc., an environmental consulting firm providing services for both industrial and municipal clients with 7,500 employees and $1.4 billion in revenues. Previously, he held senior management positions for Infilco-Degremont of Richmond, VA, and Hydranautics of Oceanside, CA...

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography awards water-discharge monitoring contract to AMEC Earth & Environmental -- SAN DIEGO, July 26, 2006 -- The San Diego office of international engineering services company AMEC has been awarded a four-year, $1 million-plus contract by the University of California-San Diego, for water-quality monitoring at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. AMEC was selected based on the qualifications and experience of the project team. Scripps Institution is a world-renowned center for marine-science research located on the Pacific Coast at La Jolla, CA, adjacent to the San Diego Marine Life Refuge (SDMLR). Under the contract, AMEC and its team of sub-consultants will conduct monitoring required under an NPDES permit. The contract calls for the AMEC team to periodically collect and analyze water and sediment samples from various oceanside and underwater locations where return seawater from numerous aquariums and stormwater are discharged. In addition, AMEC scientists are helping Scripps conduct special studies to understand any potential impacts to the ecosystem within the SDMLR, which has been designated as an Area of Special Biological Significance...

• Black & Veatch names Bart Schubert its vice president of corporate development -- OVERLAND PARK, KS, July 26, 2006 -- Black & Veatch announced today that it has named Bart Schubert as vice president of corporate development to further the strategic business and geographic growth of the company. In this newly created position, he'll be responsible for developing elements of value creation and innovation into the strategic planning process across the company's business lines. Schubert was previously with Black & Veatch in 1989-96. In addition, he has served in planning, marketing and business development roles for other leading service providers. Schubert has a master's of business administration degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a bachelor's in industrial engineering from Purdue University...

• New study to assess hurricane impact on coral reefs -- ORLANDO, FL, July 26, 2006 -- Flower Garden Banks (FGB) National Marine Sanctuary is home to one of the world's most magnificent coral reefs. About 100 miles off the southern coast of Texas in the Gulf of Mexico, the reefs were in the path of Hurricane Rita, which passed over them Sept. 23-24, 2005. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS) has recently contracted with PBS&J to conduct a post-hurricane assessment of the sensitive habitats in the FGB vicinity, which include roughly 50 miles of deep-water reefs and banks. The engineering consultant's staff includes renowned international scientists and specialists on coral reefs and underwater habitats...

• Foster Wheeler to design, supply CFB boiler for Solvay subsidiary in Bulgaria -- HAMILTON, Bermuda, July 26, 2006 -- Foster Wheeler Ltd. announced that Foster Wheeler Energia Polska Sp. z o.o., part of its Global Power Group, has been awarded a contract by Deven JSCo, a subsidiary of Solvay Sodi, for a 400 tons per hour circulating fluidized-bed (CFB) boiler island for its industrial power station located in the town of Devnya in Bulgaria. The contract, valued at approximately $60 million [EUR 48 million], will be included in the company's second-quarter bookings. When completed, the power plant will produce process steam and electricity for Solvay Sodi -- one of the largest soda ash plants in the world. Soda ash is used mainly in the production of glass and detergents, in the paper and leather industries, and in metallurgy...
Also see: "Foster Wheeler secures role in Greater Ekofisk Platform modifications in Norway"

• USGS asks 'Do you know the hazard in your backyard?' -- Geological Survey launches website, fact sheets on earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanoes and wildfires -- ALEXANDRIA, VA, July 26, 2006 -- Every year, natural hazards that occur in the United States can result in hundreds of lives lost and cost billions of dollars in the form of disaster aid, disrupted commerce and destroyed public and private properties. To help educate the public about the threat of natural hazards, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has launched a new Web site and seven easy-to-understand fact sheets on earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, landslides, tsunamis, volcanoes and wildfires. The hazards Web site highlights resources and information available from the USGS and provides links to the individual hazards Web pages for more detailed information. The Web site and fact sheets can be accessed at http://www.usgs.gov/hazards/...

• Bentley named world's No. 2 provider of GIS/geospatial software in new Daratech study -- Study forecasts worldwide GIS/geospatial revenue of $3.6 billion by end of 2006 -- EXTON, PA, July 26, 2006 -- Bentley Systems Inc. has been named the world's No. 2 provider of GIS/geospatial software in a just-released Daratech research study. According to the study, the worldwide GIS/geospatial business grew by 17% in 2005, with revenue -- up from $2.82 billion in 2004 -- growing fastest in the public sector, which includes federal and municipal governments. Software revenues accounted for more than half of total GIS/geospatial revenues in 2004, with revenues from GIS software vendors reaching $1.5 billion. The study says that ESRI, Bentley, and Intergraph are the leading providers of this technology and account for over half of the total GIS/geospatial software revenues. Bentley is ranked as the No. 2 vendor of GIS/geospatial software solutions worldwide, second only to ESRI...
Also see:
-- "Bentley inaugurates LEARN: Unlimited learning for fixed annual fee helps bridge gap between infrastructure needs and engineering resources"
-- "Bentley announces live eSeminar on 'Advancing GIS for Infrastructure'"

• Long Beach, CA, school district selects ET Water smart controllers for water conservation -- CORTE MADERA, CA, July 25, 2006 -- ET Water Systems reported its product has been selected by the Long Beach School District Board for installation on 27 schools, as part of a program to conserve water and reduce the district's water bills. The Long Beach Water District provided grant funding, assisted in the analysis of competitive products and recommended the ET Water™ system. Through an exclusive partnership with WeatherBug^®, the leading provider of live, local weather information services, ET Water offers its customers and the school district the ability to proactively monitor and manage school grounds and facilities with unprecedented efficiency and reliability...

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