• Gases specialist to provide essential water treatment chemicals and expertise to South West Water
GUILDFORD, UK, June 19, 2007 -- A new agreement for the supply of water treatment gases will see BOC help South West Water (SWW) to sustain good quality drinking water to over 1.5 million South West residents.
The agreement covers a package of essential products and services -- at the core of which is the provision of chlorine to water treatment facilities across the South West. Under the agreement SWW will have ready access to a range of BOC compressed gas packages, technical advice and training for site personnel in the safe handling and storage of gas packages.
BOC is the leading provider of gases and technical services to the UK's water services industry. This new agreement will see the company become the sole provider of all SWW's gas requirements for the treatment of drinking water, sewerage and waste water management.
BOC business manager Martin Teller said: "BOC is proud to have forged such a crucial agreement with SWW. The South West is one of the remotest regions in the UK and subject to huge seasonal demand, so security of supply is paramount for SWW to maintain the highest standards of water quality to its customers."
Said Teller: "Over the last six months the BOC team has worked closely with SWW to understand usage patterns at water treatment sites so that gas stockholdings can be managed safely and efficiently throughout the course of the year."
"Because product stewardship with compressed gases is key for BOC we have also introduced SWW site employees to safety measures required for handling and storing of water treatment gases, chlorine and sulphur dioxide."
Under the agreement BOC is contracted to provide essential products and services to SWW for up to five years. The key benefits of the agreement include:
• Unrivalled distribution. With a nation-wide distribution network BOC is able to provide next-day delivery of gas cylinders or five day delivery for bulk orders over one tonne. Cylinders and drums are stored at local BOC distribution centers in the region and are delivered on demand direct to SWW sites.
• Multi-sourcing of product. BOC has secured product for water customers by sourcing product from a core of UK as well as European sources. This ensures that BOC has a supply contingency in the event of any shortfall in production.
• Hands-on technical advice. BOC provides technical advice to its major water customers on a seven day, 24-hour basis. In the event of an on-site emergency SWW will also have access to BOC's emergency response team.
• Safety training. BOC provides access to training on the safe use and connection of water treatments gases, chlorine, ammonia and sulphur dioxide.
• Ease of handling. BOC has introduced new high- specification valves for chlorine and sulphur dioxide drums and cylinders and trained SWW staff in their safe operation. These valves are easily operated by hand and because they are not in contact with the product, are not subject to corrosion.
Commenting on the agreement, SWW Procurement Manager, Mike Davies said: "Ensuring that all our customers have round-the-clock access to high quality drinking water and waste water facilities is crucial for SWW -- and since privatisation, we have worked tirelessly to bring the region's drinking water, beaches and sewerage systems into line with stringent UK and European Union standards.
"This agreement with BOC will support SWW continuing to meet those Drinking Water quality standards."
BOC is a member of The Linde Group, a world-leading industrial gases and engineering company with more than 51,000 employees working in around 70 countries worldwide. Following the acquisition of BOC, the company achieves annual gases and engineering sales of around 12 billion euros. The strategy of The Linde Group is geared towards earnings-based growth and focuses on the expansion of its international business with forward-looking products and services.
Part of the Pennon Group Plc, South West Water (SWW) provides water and sewerage services to customers throughout Devon, Cornwall and small parts of Dorset and Somerset. One of 11 privatized water companies in the UK, SWW provides essential water services to 1.6 million customers across an area covering nearly 4300 square miles.
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