WaterBriefs: Clean Water State Revolving Funds slashed in FY07 federal budget

In other news below:
-- Bentley acquires Cook-Hurlbert
-- SPL advances on DistribuTECH 2006 with SUM product
-- Hansen signs strategic alliance with Agresso for ERP solution
-- 42 teams from 27 high schools vie for LADWP science championship
-- Pennsylvania American accepting entries for watershed art contest
-- EPCOR buy of Breakwater water assets approved
-- Aqua Dyne acquires North American market rights
-- Research and Markets reports on European beverage preferences
-- American States Utility Services acquires water rights
-- O.I. Corp. signs deal with Wyle Laboratories
-- Manhattan Beach sewage spill to be remediated
-- UltraStrip, WaterEye team up on homeland security monitoring
-- Wavefront signs environmental groundwater contract
-- EPA settles Chicago, Wisconsin cases, cites Minnesota company
-- Munters divests its water business

Administration signals clean water not a priority - CIFA -- Clean Water State Revolving Funds slashed in FY07 Budget -- WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2006 -- The Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities (CIFA), a national affiliation of state programs that finance community wastewater and drinking water projects, today expressed its great concern about the continued significant cut in federal funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program in the President's Fiscal Year 2007 Budget.

The proposed $688 million represents a 22% reduction from the previous year and, if approved by Congress, would result in CWSRF funding having been cut nearly 50% over the last three years.

The CWSRF continues to be the mainstay of financing support for water infrastructure. Funding goes to priority projects to clean up polluted streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries in all 50 states and territories. Much of the progress over the past two decades in improving water quality is attributable to this highly successful Federal-State partnership.

"Current efforts to address water quality problem are woefully inadequate and I am dismayed that the Administration wants to cut the CWSRF even further. This latest cut seems a clear abandonment of clean water goals," said Janet Hunter-Moore, President of CIFA. Estimates by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Congress and others uniformly conclude that not nearly enough is being spent to meet pressing pollution problems and replace an aging infrastructure. The gap in clean water infrastructure financing is projected to reach $21 billion by 2025.

Hunter-Moore went on to say, "We at the state level are very concerned that this Administration has put the CWSRF on a death watch. Where is the commitment to clean rivers, lakes and streams?"

The Council of Infrastructure Financing Authorities is a national association representing state and local government organizations involved in the financing of water infrastructure. To learn more about CIFA, please visit the website at www.cifanet.org.

Also see: "EPA's FY2007 budget reflects efficiency, collaboration and sound science" (USEPA)

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Among other recent headlines:

• Bentley acquires Cook-Hurlbert -- Adds expert designer, the leading distribution design software for utilities, to portfolio -- EXTON, PA, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Bentley Systems Inc. it has acquired the assets of Cook-Hurlbert of Austin, Texas, a leading provider of engineering design software for electric and gas distribution networks. Cook-Hurlbert's Expert Designer spatial network layout and analysis software was among the first developed specifically for utility designers and engineers. Users of this open and integrated software include many leading utilities such as Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE), a Constellation Energy Company, and Xcel Energy...

• 2005 results demonstrate utility market embracing SPL Strategic Utility Management -- SPL advances on DistribuTECH 2006 with SUM product, technology and services offerings -- SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Of SPL's 28 new product sales in 2005, "nine of them involved multiple product sales to a single SPL customer," says SPL WorldGroup CEO Larry Hagewood. At DistribuTECH 2006, SPL will feature SUM side-by-side with its individual best-of-breed applications in customer care and billing, mobile workforce management, outage and distribution management, and enterprise asset and work management...

• Hansen signs strategic alliance with Agresso to offer browser-based 'one-stop' government ERP solution -- Represents new entrant in government ERP market delivering high value applications, integrated with financials -- RANCHO CORDOVA, CA, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Hansen Information Technologies today announced a strategic alliance with Agresso Americas, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unit 4 Agresso N.V., to offer a 100% browser-based 'one-stop' Government ERP solution. In response to demands for a government-focused ERP solution, Hansen Financials combines Europe's leading government financial solution, with Hansen's world class revenue, operations, and asset valuation applications, to deliver an enterprise-level solution utilizing a service-oriented architecture (SOA) that is 100% browser-based...

• Over 200 students, 42 teams from 27 high schools vie for LADWP Science Bowl Regional Championship -- LADWP regional championship teams have won four national titles in U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl Program -- LOS ANGELES, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Like their Olympic athlete counterparts competing for medals, more than 200 of the city's best high school science students will be seeking prizes and the regional championship at the 14th Annual Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) Science Bowl, to be held Saturday, Feb. 25, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the LADWP downtown headquarters, 111 N. Hope St. The public is welcome to attend. LADWP regional championship teams have among the best records of any area in the nation having won four national titles and placed in the top five ranking teams eight out of the last 11 years at the U.S. Department of Energy National Science Bowl in Washington, D.C...

• Pennsylvania American Water accepting entries for watershed art contest -- HERSHEY, PA, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Pennsylvania American Water is accepting entries for its fifth annual Protect Our Watersheds art contest. Open to fifth-grade classes in schools served by Pennsylvania American Water -- or to individual fifth-graders who live in communities served by the company -- the contest encourages students to utilize their artistic talents to express the importance of protecting Pennsylvania's watersheds and water resources. As part of the entry, students are asked to write a short description of how watershed protection impacts them personally...

• EPCOR receives regulatory approval to acquire water assets of Breakwater Enterprises Ltd. EDMONTON & RICHMOND, Canada, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Work on water quality improvements begin immediately - EPCOR's purchase of the water utility assets of Breakwater Enterprises Ltd. (BEL) has been approved by the Office of the Water Comptroller for the Province of British Columbia. BEL is the provider of potable water to about 3,500 residents within the Regional District of Nanaimo between the City of Parksville and the Town of Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. EPCOR and BEL reached an agreement for purchase of the assets in December 2004 and the purchase was subject to regulatory approval by the Water Comptroller...

• Aqua Dyne acquires North American market rights -- BRISBANE, Australia, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Water purification specialist Aqua Dyne Inc. publicly traded on the US Bulletin board, announces the acquisition of an exclusive licence to market the COMENERGY Hybrid Coal and Gas Turbine (HCGT) technology throughout North America.
The Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industry Research Organization (CSIRO), the Australian Federal Governments Premier Research Organization has developed the HCGT technology in collaboration with Industry partner Liquatech Pty Ltd. This unique technology is an Industry breakthrough, utilizing waste coal and fugitive methane emissions to generate electrical energy. The HCGT technology will significantly reduce the environmental impacts of coal mining by lowering fugitive methane emissions from underground mines, reducing water polluting acid run-off and by reducing gaseous emissions from waste coal stockpiles...

• Beer is most popular drink in Germany, Spain and UK, while wine leads in France, Italy -- DUBLIN, Ireland, Feb. 6, 2006 -- Research and Markets has announced the addition of "Drinking Habits - A Pan-European Overview" to its offering of market research reports. This report provides valuable information on the drinking habits of consumers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.
Using the latest consumer research, market size data and trend analysis, this report offers you vital new insight to focus each step of your product marketing towards real demand...
Also see:
-- "Soft drinks market in India sold over 4 billion liters, with sales up 16%"
-- "Bottled water in Turkey forecasts up to the year 2009"

• American States Water announces acquisition of water rights by American States Utility Services Inc. -- SAN DIMAS, CA, Feb. 3, 2006 -- On Jan. 31, American States Water Co., through its American States Utility Services Inc. subsidiary, entered into a water purchase agreement to acquire 5,000 acre feet of water rights from Natomas Central Mutual Water Company. Natomas is a California corporation that currently provides water service only to agricultural customers in portions of Sacramento and Sutter counties in northern California...

• O.I. Corp. announces agreement with Wyle Laboratories Inc. -- COLLEGE STATION, TX, Feb. 3, 2006 -- O.I. Corp. announced today that it has entered into a Letter Contract with Wyle Laboratories Inc. Life Sciences Group. Under the deal, the company -- which has been designing, manufacturing, selling, and supporting total organic carbon (TOC) analyzers for over 35 years -- will assist Wyle in the planning, acquisition of materials, development of software and hardware, systems engineering, and fabrication of components that Wyle will use to deliver a TOC analyzer for use on the International Space Station. The initial value of this contract is up to $722,566 with a potential value of $1.8 million. O.I.'s work on the project will begin immediately and will be conducted in the company's facilities in College Station, TX, with completion anticipated no later than the end of the third quarter 2006. In 2005 the company introduced its fifth generation TOC analyzer, the Aurora Model 1030...

• Soil to be remediated at site of Manhattan Beach spill -- WHITTIER, CA, Feb. 3, 2006 -- On Jan. 15, wastewater spilled onto local beaches at various manhole locations in Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach. Most of the wastewater was contained behind berms and ultimately infiltrated into the sand or was removed with the use of vacuum trucks and put back into the sewers. The contaminated sand was cleaned, disinfected with chlorine, dried for two days, and covered with 2-1/2 -feet of sand. Subsequent testing indicated elevated levels of bacteria below the surface. However, this sand is underground and does not pose an immediate health risk to anyone who walks across the sand or goes into the water. However, as a cautionary measure, these areas have been cordoned off from public access...

• UltraStrip's filtration and WaterEye's homeland security monitoring systems team up -- STUART, FL, Feb. 2, 2006 -- UltraStrip Systems Inc., the Stuart, Fla.-based homeland security technology company, announced that it has formed an alliance with WaterEye Corp. for monitoring water systems for Homeland Security, military, and industrial applications. WaterEye's patented water monitoring systems will be installed on the filtration equipment manufactured through UltraStrip's wholly owned subsidiary, Ecosphere Technologies Inc. Ecosphere recently signed a joint marketing and supply agreement with Pierce Manufacturing, a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corp., to jointly manufacture a Tactical Water Filtration Truck...

• Wavefront Energy & Environmental Services Inc. signs groundwater contract -- Definitive agreement reached with Greentree Gas and Oil Ltd. -- EDMONTON, Canada, Feb. 2, 2006 -- Wavefront Energy and Environmental Services Inc., a provider of innovative technologies for increased oil production and groundwater remediation and Greentree Gas and Oil Ltd., an exploration and production company in southwestern Ontario, are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement to develop Greentree's Rodney South, Ontario oil field lease using Wavefront's DeepWave technology...

• Hazardous chemical reporting roundup: EPA settles Chicago, Wisconsin cases, cites Minnesota company -- CHICAGO, Feb. 2, 2006 -- The EPA Region 5 Office recently settled administrative cases involving hazardous chemical release reporting violations in Chicago and Antigo, Wis., and filed a new case against a New Ulm, Minn., company. All three cases involved anhydrous ammonia, which is commonly used in commercial refrigeration systems. The chemical causes burns to the skin and irritation to the eyes, nose and throat and may be fatal if inhaled for long periods of time. Anhydrous ammonia releases greater than 100 pounds must be immediately reported...
Also see:
-- "Two Alaska seafood processors agree to pay for Clean Water Act violations"
-- "EPA to hold public meeting about Lac du Flambeau Band Clean-Water application Feb. 15"
-- "Leigh Ann Vradenburg earns EPA Achievement Award for Willow Creek Watershed efforts"

• Munters divests its water business -- STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Feb. 2, 2006 -- Munters has agreed to divest its water business to the German industrial group, GEA Group AG. Munters and GEA have agreed that GEA will take over all of Munters assets and activities in the water business. The business, which is part of Munters HumiCool Division, produces and sells products for waste and potable water treatment and for cooling towers. The business had sales of SEK 63 million [US$8.09 million] in 2005...

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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: Membrana begins supply agreement with Memstar for Liqui-Cel membranes" -- Also in this report (Feb. 3, 2006): 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...

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