WorldBriefs: Court backs right to water in South Africa

In other news below:
-- Black & Veatch team wins series of health, safety awards
-- Third extension to framework contract
-- Saudi Arabia water crisis to end in six months, says Minister
-- Scientists collect data to aid Afghanistan reconstruction
-- Illegal oil discharges detected during surveillance flights
-- Graduate scholarship available for desalination study
-- Abu Dhabi will supply water, electricity to northern emirates
-- BioteQ begins second project with JV in China
-- New Arco branch aims to improve health, safety in Yorkshire
-- Rainwater harvesting helps Innovation Centre achieve top eco rating
-- Free AUMA EDD/DTM downloads

• Court backs right to water in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- The South African Court has issued a landmark ruling against pre-paid water meters in Johannesburg township, requiring provision of 50 litres of free water per person per day...

Among other recent headlines:

• Black & Veatch team wins series of health, safety awards
REDHILL, UK -- Black & Veatch was recently lauded by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) for its exceptional efforts to maintain the highest standards in occupational health and safety...

• Third extension to framework contract
LINCOLNSHIRE, UK -- Civil engineering firm UCS Civils has negotiated a two-year extension to a framework contract with one of the UK's leading providers of water and wastewater services which could be worth in excess of £8 million over five years...

• Saudi Arabia water crisis to end in six months, says Minister
SHUAIBA, Saudi Arabia -- The water shortage in Makkah, Jeddah and Taif will be solved within six months when the third desal plant in Shuaiba begins pumping water to the three cities, according to Minister of Water and Electricity Abdullah Al-Hussayen...

• Scientists collect data to aid Afghanistan reconstruction
RESTON, VA, USA -- Policymakers, potential private investors, and the public received valuable new information to help identify fault lines and the potential location of undiscovered water, oil and gas, and non-fuel mineral resources in Afghanistan...

• Illegal oil discharges detected during Super CEPCO surveillance flights
AALBORG, Denmark -- Almost twenty illegal oil discharges from ships were detected in the North Sea during the world's largest multi-national aerial surveillance operation against polluters at sea...
Also see: -- "Group to discuss implementation of Baltic recovery plan"

• Graduate scholarship available for desalination study
TOPSFIELD, MA, USA -- Applications are now open for the International Desalination Association (IDA) annual Channabasappa Memorial Scholarship...

• Abu Dhabi will supply water, electricity to northern emirates
ABU DHABI, UAE -- The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority will supply the federal authority with electricity for the northern emirates, an official said...
Also see: -- "Future Pipe Industries wins Dh276.5m Abu Dhabi deal"

• BioteQ begins second project with JV in China
VANCOUVER, BC, Canada -- BioteQ Environmental Technologies is initiating the second of six potential water treatment projects identified in its November 2006 joint venture agreement with Jiangxi Copper Company...

• New Arco branch aims to improve health, safety in Yorkshire
DONCASTER, UK -- Fortifying its position as the UK's leading health and safety equipment and workwear supplier, Hull-based safety company Arco has opened its newest branch in Doncaster...
Also see: -- "British Lung Foundation annual awareness campaign"

• Rainwater harvesting helps Innovation Centre achieve top eco rating
EXETER, UK -- The new Innovation Centre at the University of Exeter has been awarded the top rating in the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) thanks in part to a rainwater harvesting system installed by Stormsaver...

• Free AUMA EDD/DTM downloads
CLEVEDON, UK -- AUMA actuator customers in the water industry can now benefit from free downloadable EDD and DTM software drivers for use with the two established software technologies: Simatic PDM and FDT...