WorldwideNews: EUROPE/MIDDLE EAST

Wedeco wins major UK disinfection contract

Wedeco AG Water Technology of Düsseldorf, Germany, won a major contract through its UK subsidiary Wedeco UV Systems. United Utilities, formerly North West Water, ordered ultraviolet (UV) wastewater disinfection systems for 19 sewage treatment plants in the northwest of England. Wedeco AG Chairman Werner Klink reports that this framework contract, worth Euro 8.1 million (US$ 7.7 m), is the largest of its kind ever to be awarded in Europe for wastewater disinfection. It includes an option for follow-on contracts for other sewage treatment plants.

United Utilities ordered the UV systems to comply with strict hygiene standards as required by the EU Bathing Water Directive. The directive attempts to protect the health of the bathing population and preserve original flora and fauna in rivers, lakes and coastal waters. The high level of UV disinfection ensures that effluent from sewage treatment plants is below permissable levels of microbiological monitoring data laid down in the directive.

Monsal sludge technology awarded

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) presented its 2002 Ken Roberts award for Technical Inno-vation to Monsal, the specialist engineering and sludge technology company, based in Mansfield, UK. The award was given in recognition of Monsal's contribution to sludge processing technology.

Monsal development policy provides equipment standardisation and delivers it to the end client through technology partnering. Traditional problems associated with sludge such as odour, handling and logistics still need to be addressed as well as new standards on pathogens that will come into force. Monsal's technology partnering is a structured approach that identifies problem areas, conducts fundamental work then application and validation of this work with water industry clients. The company developed standardised process design templates that promotes continuity with operational staff.

Monsal has been developing and refining key process systems via research and development investment in advanced sludge treatment.

Norwegian company wins Stockholm Industry Award

Kaldnes Miljøteknologi AS won the prestigious 2002 Stockholm Industry Water Award for its innovative, compact and flexible biological water treatment process that highlights the unique collaborative opportunities between science and industry. The company's suspended carrier biofilm technology, combines activated sludge and traditional biofilm processes. Varieties of this patented Moving Bed™ Process are applied in more than 20 developing and developed countries.

The core of the process is the biofilm carrier made from polyethylene with a density slightly below that of water. The carrier serves as a "home" for bacterial cultures, a catalyst for biological processes and can be applied in both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, which makes the technology feasible for all types of biological water and wastewater.

Mr. Björn Rosén, chairman of the nominating committee, explained: "Kaldnes is an encouraging example of how an idea born in a university research group leads to an encompassing and important international business. And it is the result of some 10 years' dedication to process development that has achieved operational effectiveness and proven results in several hundred plants."

Kaldnes, which is located in Tönsberg, Norway, is part of the Anglian Water Group. The process has helped achieve the required 50% increase in nutrients reduction into the North Sea that was agreed upon in the North Sea Treaty, signed in 1987.

The Stockholm Water Foundation, Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences and World Business Council for Sustainable Development sponsor this award. They are represented on the international nominating committee together with experts from the Norwegian Technical University, Severn Trent plc and the Budapest University of Technology and Economics. For more information on the Kaldnes Moving Bed Process and its applications, visit the website: www.kmt.no.

In-sewer fibre optics contract for Egypt signed

CableRunner North America, LLC, a fibre optic deployment company in conjunction with their parent company, the City of Vienna, Austria Water and Sewer Department (Wien Kanal Abwassertechnologien GmbH -WKA), awarded National Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) exclusive right to use CableRunner technology for installing fibre optic networks in Egypt. Exclusive rights for other Arab countries will be negotiated if the two-year term proves successful.

Under the agreement, NTC and WKA/CableRunner NA will work together to use CableRunner technology for installing in-sewer fibre optic networks within existing sewer infrastructures in Cairo and other cities throughout Egypt. WKA/CableRunner NA will provide NTC with planning and staff training, delivery of all materials for self-installation, use of CableRunner robotic technology and technical support.

CableRunner specialises in deploying in-sewer fibre optic cables in congested metropolitan areas. (www.cablerunnerusa.com)

FIELD NOTES

Denmark: The Grundfos Group acquired the Swiss company Arnold AG, specialists in submersible mixers, flowmakers and recirculation pumps, which is based in Schachem. Grundfos gains 23 years of experience in the specific area of mixers, extending the company's general capacity within wastewater treatment. Edi Arnold of Arnold AG, agreed to continue working as managing director for the next few years to ensure continuity in the company.

Russia: The Frost & Sullivan report "Russia: Opportunities and Entry Strategies" by K. Ravi concludes that "Russia is likely to emerge as a niche market for suppliers of water treatment equipment, if only they are able to identify the right kind of opportunities." Ravi advises that "efforts should be directed to spot those regions and municipalities that are financially independent of the federal government and are strong enough to support large water treatment projects."

The city of Moscow plans to provide more than 65% of the city with sewage facilities, so city officials decided to build 31 new surface water sewage and purification facilities, and rehabilitate 22 other facilities. Vladivostok, in the Russian Far East, is a potential centre for the sale of water and wastewater treatment equipment. The city plans to issue municipal bonds to mobilise funds for building treatment facilities.

According to Ravi, the best sales prospects are municipal sewage treatment systems; industrial wastewater treatment systems; point of use/point of entry drinking water systems; water pipelines and fittings; marine pollution control equipment; water monitoring instrumentation and controls. For more information, visit www.frost.com.

United Arab Emirates: Parsons Brinckerhoff (PB), a US consulting firm based in New York City, will provide consulting engineering services for the development of a new US$ 1.6 billion power plant and water desalination facility outside of Abu Dhabi. The project, procured by the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, is located at Shuweihat, 250 km west of Abu Dhabi. It will include a gas-fuelled 1,500-mW power plant and a water desalination facility with a capacity of 100 million imperial gallons per day. PB is serving as owner's engineer for the project. The firm's responsibilities include project management, design review, site supervision, oversight of performance testing and engineering site services during the 24-month guarantee period.

The plant is scheduled to come on line in 2004.

UK: Hanovia Ltd of Slough will supply UV disinfection equipment, using medium-pressure technology, to SASOL Technology Ltd for an ITS production plant at Sasolburg in South Africa. Four Hanovia Photoncopyright systems will treat up to 42 mld of secondary effluent for use as process water in polymer production. Each UV system will be fitted with a patented TX10 transmittance monitor to measure seasonal changes in the transmittance of incoming water, allowing UV output to be constantly adjusted so as to ensure a consistent dose. Automatic lamp wiping and power switching technology will ensure optimum dose.