WaterBriefs: NJ American provides temporary water supply to Trenton due to flooding

In other news below:
-- Ashland's SONOXIDE wins BCE Award
-- Black & Veatch helps St. Louis develop new groundwater supply
-- Dow signs agreement to acquire China's Zhejiang Omex Environmental Engineering
-- Suez buys 4.7% of Greek water utility EYATH for undisclosed sum
-- Manitoba Hydro to deploy Itron's advanced metering, two-way communications system
-- American Water funds environmental grants program
-- Foster Wheeler enters contract for advanced arch-fired supercritical technology in China
-- Ameron to sell coatings business to PPG
-- Pentair announces $193 million adverse jury verdict in Horizon litigation
-- Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County honors 463 companies as good citizens
-- UltraStrip delivers initial system to Pierce Manufacturing for water filtration truck
-- Scientists say ethanol's water demands cause for scrutiny, not alarm

• New Jersey American Water provides temporary water supply to Trenton due to flooding -- CHERRY HILL, NJ, June 29, 2006 -- New Jersey American Water opened its emergency interconnection with the City of Trenton this morning at the request of Trenton Water Works. New Jersey American Water will provide a backup water supply to the city for as long as it needs it.

Trenton Water Works has requested at least 3 million gallons a day but that could increase to 5 million gallons a day.

"As the state's largest water purveyor, it's important that other water purveyors know that they can rely on us in times of emergency. I am pleased that we were able to respond to Trenton's needs so quickly," said Walter Lynch, President New Jersey American Water.

New Jersey American Water is the state's largest water utility serving over two million people in 176 communities throughout the state. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Water, the largest and most geographically diverse provider of water services in North America.

With headquarters in Voorhees, NJ, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse provider of water services in North America. American Water employs approximately 7,000 dedicated people who serve more than 18 million people in 29 states and Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com. American Water is an integrated part of RWE AG, of Essen, Germany, a leading global utility services company.

Also see:
-- "New Jersey American Water continues to be a regional water service provider"
-- "Gov. Rendell requests expedited federal disaster assistance for 34 Pa. counties; seeks help from President Bush in crisis resulting from Delaware River flooding"
-- "PA DEP offers instructions on testing, disinfecting private drinking water wells"
-- "Floods swamp Eastern corridor - American Red Cross"
-- "USGS Streamgage Network critical for measuring flood data"

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• Ashland's SONOXIDE ultrasonic water treatment system captures BCE Award -- DUBLIN, OH, June 29, 2006 -- The SONOXIDE^® ultrasonic water treatment system available from Drew Industrial, a business group of Ashland Specialty Chemical, a division of Ashland Inc., has earned a Major Commendation Award from Business Commitment to the Environment (BCE), an independent environmental awards organization based in the United Kingdom. Traditionally, microbial growth within water systems has been controlled by chemical treatment. The Ashland system offers a new approach to microbiological control in recirculating cooling water systems by using low power, high frequency ultrasound to kill bacteria throughout industrial water systems. The award was presented by Conservative Party Leader David Cameron at a ceremony in London recently...

• Black & Veatch helps St. Louis develop new groundwater supply -- ST. LOUIS, June 29, 2006 -- Black & Veatch announced today that it has begun work on a project to develop a new groundwater supply source for the city of St. Louis, MO. When completed, the new water source will deliver up to 240 million gpd of groundwater to the Chain of Rocks Water Purification Plant for treatment and distribution to customers in the St. Louis metropolitan area. B&V is currently preparing a groundwater supply master plan for phased implementation of the proposed new well field and transmission pipelines as part of a contract for engineering services to build the first phase of the project that will deliver about 50 mgd of groundwater to the treatment plant. The master plan is scheduled for completion in March 2007...
Also see: "Kevin M. Harper rejoins Black & Veatch as principal consultant for Enterprise Management Solutions Division"

• Dow signs agreement to acquire Zhejiang Omex Environmental Engineering Co. Ltd. -- MIDLAND, MI, & HUZHOU, Zhejiang, China, June 29, 2006 -- The Dow Chemical Company and China's Zhejiang Omex Environmental Engineering Co. Ltd. (OEE) today announced that Dow has agreed to acquire OEE. This acquisition establishes Dow as a leader in advanced component offerings for water purification. Specifically, the acquisition will allow Dow to expand into three critical, enabling component technologies for water treatment: ultrafiltration (UF), membrane bioreactor (MBR) membranes, and electrodeionization (EDI). Brought together with Dow's existing technology offerings, these critical components will create the framework for a new Dow Water Solutions business. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed...
Also see:
-- "Dow underwrites final segments in Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures"
-- "Dow Chemical launches "The Human Element" U.S. ad campaign"

• Suez buys 4.7% of Greek water utility EYATH for undisclosed sum -- ATHENS, Greece, June 29, 2006 -- Giorgos Skordas, managing director of EYATH, a water utility in Greeces's second largest city Thessalonica, said at an AGM that Suez has acquired a 4.7 percent stake in the company, reported Forbes.com yesterday. No financial details were disclosed. Sources told Euro2day.gr Newswire that Suez is considering raising its stake to above 10 percent to become a strategic investor. Skordas also said the company are currently discussing joint cooperation with Suez in Greece and the Balkans, on implementing joint projects and transferring know how from Suez to EYATH. An announcement of any cooperation agreement formed by the two companies is expected by the end of summer...

• Manitoba Hydro to deploy Itron's advanced metering, two-way communications system -- Two-way, open-protocol solution to support advanced metering, demand response and "smart grid" applications -- SPOKANE, WA, June 29, 2006 -- Manitoba Hydro, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, will be the first utility in North America to deploy OpenWay™, an advanced metering and communication technology being developed by Itron. OpenWay by Itron combines two-way communications to each meter with an open-protocol, standards-based architecture, enabling utilities to select communications technologies best suited to their needs based on cost, availability, and other considerations. It will provide a number of capabilities designed to meet the most rigorous of AMI business cases including: two-way communications to each meter. The project will begin in September and includes 5,000 new OpenWay CENTRON^® electricity meters that will be installed in selected areas of the Winnipeg metropolitan area...

• American Water funds environmental grants program -- Investing in community environmental improvement -- VOORHEES, NJ, June 29, 2006 -- American Water announced organizations to receive funding through this year's Environmental Grant Program. Of the seven participating states this year, three organizations in Pennsylvania, two in Kentucky, one in West Virginia, and one in Tennessee received a share of grant funds totaling $68,900. Grant opportunities in Maryland are still being examined for distribution this month. Decisions for California and Virginia will be announced in the fall...

• Foster Wheeler enters license contract for advanced arch-fired supercritical technology in China -- HAMILTON, Bermuda, June 29, 2006 -- Foster Wheeler Ltd. announced today that Foster Wheeler North America Corp., a unit of its Global Power Group, has entered into a contract with Shanghai Boiler Works Ltd., a unit of Shanghai Electric Corp., to provide an advanced technology license for arch-fired subcritical and supercritical steam generators. The value of the initial fees will be included in the company's second-quarter 2006 bookings, and ongoing royalty payments will be booked over the 15-year agreement period. In addition to the Chinese market where Shanghai Boiler Works Ltd. will lead the contracting activities, Foster Wheeler and Shanghai Boiler Works Ltd. have agreed to cooperate for projects outside China, with Foster Wheeler providing boiler design packages and other project support...
Also see: "Foster Wheeler wins contract in India for design of world's largest delayed coker as part of Jamnagar Export Refinery Project at Reliance Petroleum Ltd."

• Ameron makes strategic decision to sell coatings business -- PASADENA, CA, June 29, 2006 -- Ameron International Corp. announced today that the company has agreed to sell its worldwide Performance Coatings & Finishes business to PPG Industries. The transaction is expected to be completed within 30 to 45 days, subject to the terms of the agreement and following regulatory review in Europe. The exit from coatings will allow Ameron to redeploy resources to its three remaining consolidated businesses, where it has leadership positions. The company will remain focused on enhanced growth opportunities in the infrastructure, water and energy sectors, through its Fiberglass-Composite Pipe, Water Transmission and Infrastructure Products businesses and TAMCO, Ameron's 50%-owned venture, which is the largest manufacturer of steel rebar in California...
Also see: "PPG names five new vice presidents"

• Pentair announces $193 million adverse jury verdict in Horizon litigation -- GOLDEN VALLEY, MN, June 29, 2006 -- Pentair Inc. today announced that the jury in the commercial damages portion of the Horizon litigation awarded a verdict last night against its subsidiary, Essef Corp. The jury awarded the plaintiff in the case, Celebrity Cruise Lines Inc., about $193 million exclusive of pre-judgment interest and attorneys fees, the amount of which is subject to further decision and final calculation by the court. The case arises from an outbreak of Legionnaire's Disease on the Horizon cruise ship in 1994. Celebrity sued Essef and subsidiaries prior to Pentair's acquisition of Essef in August 1999. Pentair stated it believes the jury verdict in this case, which began prior to its acquisition of Essef, isn't consistent with the law nor the evidence offered at trial. It also stated it intends to make all appropriate post-trial motions, especially those relating to damage causation and the claim for lost enterprise value...

• Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County honors industries for being 'Good Corporate Citizens' -- WHITTIER, CA, June 29, 2006 -- Certificates of Recognition were sent to 463 companies by the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County for being "good corporate citizens" for the year 2005. These companies were consistent in their compliance with all their industrial wastewater discharge requirements in 2005. They met their limits for wastewater discharge, they were free from any notices of violation, they maintained their environmental equipment and they fulfilled their permit requirements. Seventy-six of the companies received this recognition consecutively for five years. Among those honroed were:
-- La Puente Valley County Water District
-- Valley County Water District
-- West Basin Municipal Water District
-- California Water Service-Commerce Dist.
-- Rayne Water Conditioning, Inc.
-- Suburban Water Systems
-- Metropolitan Water District of Southern CA.
-- Long Beach Water Department
-- Hydrolon Industrial Water, Inc.
-- City of Pasadena Water & Power Dept.
-- San Gabriel Valley Water Co.
-- Special "T" Water Systems
-- Water Replenishment District of So. Cal.
-- GE Mobile Water
-- Nestle Waters North America...

• UltraStrip delivers initial filtration system to Pierce Manufacturing for water filtration truck -- STUART, FL, June 29, 2006 -- UltraStrip Systems Inc., the Stuart, FL-based technology innovation company for homeland security, marine, disaster relief and defense applications, announced today that the company through its Ecosphere Technologies Inc. subsidiary has delivered to Pierce Manufacturing Inc. a filtration system. Pierce will offer the water filtration system as an option in their fire and rescue vehicles to provide potable water from contaminated water sources. This expands on enhancements made following provision of clean water to residents of Waveland, MS, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. Piece was sought out to market the EPA/ETV verified water filtration system to its network of municipal, military and homeland defense customers...

• Scientists say ethanol's water demands cause for scrutiny, not alarm -- CHAMPAIGN, IL, June 28, 2006 (U.S. Water News Online) -- City officials in Champaign and Urbana took notice when they heard an ethanol plant proposed nearby would use about 2 million gallons of water per day, most likely from the aquifer that also supplies both cities. The proposal for a 100 million gallon-per-year ethanol plant is just one of many that have popped up in the past several months across Illinois, which already has seven operating plants and is the nation's No. 2 ethanol producer after Iowa. High oil prices and support from Washington have inspired such interest in the corn-based gasoline additive that the Illinois Corn Growers Association now says at least 30 plants are in various stages of planning across the state. All will use a lot of water...

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In earlier newsbriefs, see: "WaterBriefs: RJN Group helps Red Oak, TX, upgrade wastewater collection system" -- Also in this report (June 28, 2006): In-Pipe, Suffolk County win grant to demonstrate wastewater treatment technology; PMC, STS unite to launch pressure sensor agreement; Two key Black & Veatch promotions demonstrate focus on growth of its water business; ICC approves sale of South Beloit water utility to Illinois American; Peru Copper signs water treatment plant accord with the government of Peru; Golder Associates achieves employee, revenue milestones; World pump market to reach $49 billion a year by 2016; San Diego installs Cernium video analytics system to protect critical infrastructure; Las Vegas Valley Water District 'goes live' with Viryanet's utilities solution; MWH opens first office in Canada; USA's first LEED-certified winemaking facility opens in Oregon; Bentley's WaterGEMS V8 XM Edition wins People's Choice Award at AWWA ACE06; Europe's market for municipal wastewater treatment plants remains attractive; Water Works Industry Solutions offers training via iPods...

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