WaterBriefs: Membrana begins supply agreement with Memstar for Liqui-Cel membranes

In other news below:
-- USFilter ion exchange services keeps chromium out of Texas groundwater
-- GLOBE 2006 trade fair attracts record international participation
-- Booz Allen Hamilton releases analysis of utility industry trends
-- America's WETLAND Online Resource Center launched
-- World's second largest potable UF plant begins production in Minnesota with B&V design
-- American Water leads research projects totaling $1.3 million
-- EE&K moves DC offices

• Membrana begins supply agreement with Memstar for Liqui-Cel membranes -- WUPPERTAL, Germany, Feb. 3, 2006 -- Membrana GmbH -- whose U.S. offices are based in Charlotte, NC -- is pleased to announce that it has finalized an agreement with Memstar, a division of Australian wine technology specialists, Wine Network. This agreement allows Memstar world wide sales and distribution rights for Liqui-Cel^® Membrane Perstractors™. Memstar has developed a patent pending method for removing alcohol from wine without stripping away other essential components. It uses a two stage process combining reverse osmosis and these Liqui-Cel membranes. They're the key to the process of evaporative perstraction used by Memstar for lowering the alcohol content of a wine...

• USFilter ion exchange services keeps chromium out of Texas groundwater -- WARRENDALE, PA, Feb. 2, 2006 -- In 2003, USFilter was awarded a contract to provide design, installation and off-site recovery for a chromate contaminated groundwater supply in Odessa, Texas. The site was a previous home to a number of chrome plating shops that had since gone out of business. The water technology unit of Siemens A.G. provided ion exchange resin vessels in a lead/lag configuration of two banks, each with 5 service vessels. This allows the operator to monitor chromium breakthrough after the primary bank of vessels and maintain an acceptable chromium discharge level in the second set of tanks. Spent resin is transported to USFilter's RCRA-permitted regeneration facility for recovery. All chromium removed from the resin is further treated by a high temperature metals recovery process. No chromium taken from the customer site is sent to a landfill...

• GLOBE 2006 trade fair attracts record international participation -- VANCOUVER, BC, Canada, Feb. 2, 2006 -- Vancouver is getting set to once again host the world of environmental business, with GLOBE 2006 taking place March 29-31. International participation in the trade fair is reaching new heights, making this event one of the greatest international marketplaces on environmental solutions Canada has ever seen. Over 400 leading environmental and clean energy technology firms will be represented with major trade exhibits planned by Austria, Korea, Sweden, Holland, the United Kingdom (including a major involvement from Wales), the United States and the host, Canada. Over US$465 million in business was done two years ago at GLOBE 2004. That number is expected to rise this year with companies from all over the world coming to seek customers and build business-to-business relationships. Significant green business is taking place throughout the west coast in places like San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle, but Vancouver is seen by many as "the place to be" with the 2010 Olympics dubbing itself the "Green Games"...
Also see:
-- "Canada's top companies nominated for GLOBE Awards, nominations deadline nears"
-- "UN report on finance, institutional investment and capital markets point to sustainability business worth trillions"

• Booz Allen Hamilton releases analysis of utility industry trends -- MCLEAN, VA, Feb. 2, 2006 -- A confluence of legislative, regulatory, and capital-market factors all contributed to a strong 2005 performance for the utility industry, according to a recent analysis from strategic consultant Booz Allen Hamilton Inc.. With the industry's valuations well above traditional levels, investors are asking different questions this year: Are these valuations simply an illusion caused by low interest and inflation rates and ripe for return to traditional levels? Or, are economic fundamentals and more sustainable management strategies providing a floor that will continue to support higher valuations for companies? Several major M&A transactions over the past year, signaling potential accelerated consolidation within the industry, is certainly one reason for this line of questioning. Booz Allen Hamilton has analyzed trends contributing to utility industry performance in the form of an annual industry in review letter to utility company leaders. Citing several economic and other indicators, it calls for executives to prepare for "a future that is growth-oriented rather than focused on retrenchment and stability"...

• America's WETLAND Online Resource Center launched -- Scouts, swamp tour operators to join educational effort during event on World Wetlands Day -- NEW ORLEANS, LA, Feb. 2, 2006 -- Conservationists and government leaders joined Cub Scouts and the Captain of a Louisiana Swamp Tour Boat to launch the new America's WETLAND Online Resource Center (www.americaswetlandresources.com) in recognition of World Wetlands Day. Launched in partnership with America's WETLAND: Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana, the new Online Resource will serve as a major source of information on Louisiana's coastal wetlands. Along with facts, figures and frequently asked questions about Louisiana's coastal land loss -- the site also provides the first-ever volunteer certification program for tour guides and swamp boat captains, which will ensure that the thousands of visitors to America's WETLAND will receive the most accurate and up-to-date information available...

• Minneapolis benefits from enhanced water quality with startup of new membrane filtration plant
-- World's second largest potable ultrafiltration plant begins production
MINNEAPOLIS, MN, Feb. 2, 2006 -- The quality of drinking water in the Minneapolis area has been significantly enhanced by a new membrane filtration plant now in operation in Columbia Heights, Minneapolis Water Works (MWW) Interim Director Shahin Rezania said today. The largest potable ultrafiltration (UF) plant in the Western Hemisphere -- the second largest in the world -- is now treating and supplying high-quality drinking water to area residents. With a current capacity of 70 million gallons per day (mgd) and ultimate capacity of 78 mgd, the Black & Veatch-designed Columbia Heights membrane filtration plant is second in size only to a 72 mgd membrane facility in Singapore, also designed by the global engineering, consulting and construction company...
Also see: "Black & Veatch wins place on environment agency's consultancy framework"

• American Water leads research projects totaling $1.3 million
VORHEES, NJ, Feb. 2, 2006 -- American Water, the largest water services provider in North America, today announced it has funding for two select research projects. The projects, which total $1.3 million, are being funded, in part, by the American Water Works Association Research Foundation (AwwaRF). For the first project, American Water will work with HDR Engineers, Clancy Environmental Consultants, Ecole Polytechnique, and Dalhousie University to evaluate bacterial management plans. The project team will develop a guidance manual to help utilities track and control coliform bacteria in water distribution systems. Nationwide, exceeding the Total Coliform bacterial standard is the most common drinking water violation experienced by public water systems, affecting over 11 million people. The second project, which will span the next two years, will elevate recently introduced leak detection technology to the next level. Working with the National Research Council of Canada, Flow Metrix and Hexagram, American Water researchers will use Automatic Meter Reading (AMR) systems to monitor and analyze acoustic vibrations in pipes, predicting if and when the pipes will burst...

• EE&K moves DC offices -- WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. 2, 2006 -- Due to tremendous growth in the past year and an expanded staff, Ehrenkrantz, Eckstut & Kuhn (EE&K) Architects has moved its offices in the nation's capital to 888 16th St. NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20006. The telephone number is 202-861-1325. The fax number is 202-861-1326. The move was official Dec. 30...

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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: American Water pioneers alternative energy sources for water services" -- Also in this report (Feb. 1, 2006): Val-Matic celebrates 40th birthday; Apax Partners realigns CONTECH; JWC Environmental, Adams Hydraulics to expand into Japan, China; America's WETLAND Online Resource Center to launch on World Wetlands Day; USC student teams seek solutions to world water problems; GreenShift consolidates biofuels investments; Graham Corp. wins $1.5M vacuum pump order; Aqua Dyne to test solar-powered water desalination; ENPAR's DesEL System solves Mexican arsenic problem; MWH unit honors Lebanese American University president; Walter Industries acquires valve producer CCNE LLC for $8.8M; Cascade Designs wins $4M Congressional grant for Marine Corps water purifiers; Powder River Basin Gas completes Springhill Project; Novazone expands team of industry experts; Emerson's new SIS courses expand free online training at PlantWeb University; New book from ASCE profiles extraordinary women engineers...

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