Canada: The cities of Winnipeg, Manitoba and Calgary, Alberta selected ultraviolet (UV) disinfection equipment from Trojan Technologies to treat the cities’ wastewater before being released into nearby rivers and lakes. The UV systems destroy waterborne pathogens without the use of chemicals, such as chlorine. Trojan Technologies is based in London, Ontario.
The City of Winnipeg continues to upgrade its three municipal wastewater treatment plants to protect the Red River, Assiniboine River and Lake Winnipeg for fish and other aquatic life as well as for the recreation. Three TrojanUV4000 Plus systems, capable of treating up to 100 million gallons of wastewater each day, will be installed in the North End Water Pollution Control Centre.
The City of Calgary will install a TrojanUV3000 Plus UV system to disinfect wastewater before it is discharged into the Bow River. This river originates in the Rocky Mountains and flows through Banff National Park, one of the most famous and most visited nature reserves in the world.
Guyana: The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) issued an urgent appeal for US$ 543,000 to support immediate health needs in Guyana, where heavy rainfall has flooded densely populated areas, leaving thousands without shelter, food or water. Floods have seriously affected more than 70,000 persons in Georgetown and at least 100,000 in coastal regions.
Both water treatment plants on the East Coast are not operating, and the Guyana water utility placed 57 400-gallon water tanks along east-west roads, which are being filled by tanker trucks. However, delivery trucks are in short supply and although water is being chlorinated, the dosage is very low and the stock of chlorine gas is nearly depleted.
PAHO reports that 100% of the pit latrines, septic tanks or drains are flooded in the 80 assessed areas. Sewage is mixed with accumulated water, increasing the risk that water-related disease would become epidemic. Many health facilities are not functional and pit latrines and septic tanks are spilling their contents into the floodwater.
USA: Watts Water Technologies of North Andover, Massachusetts, acquired HF Scientific, Inc. of Fort Myers, Florida, in a stock purchase transaction. HF Scientific, Inc. manufactures and distributes a line of instrumentation equipment, test kits and chemical reagents used for monitoring water quality in a variety of applications.
Watts’ Chief Executive Officer Patrick S. O’Keefe explained: “The acquisition of HF Scientific represents our entry into the water monitoring market. The products of HF Scientific are consistent with our theme of water quality and provide many synergistic opportunities when utilized in conjunction with our filtration and other water quality businesses.”
Although a final amount has yet to be released, Watts Water reported that HF Scientific has approximately US$ 5 million in annual revenue. Watts Water is a manufacturer of products servicing a wide variety of water technologies for commercial and industrial uses.
USA: McElroy Manufacturing Inc. of Tulsa, Oklahoma, opened an office in Santiago, Chile, in January 2005 as part of its campaign to market its pipe fusion equipment to Caribbean and Latin American customers. “McElroy has had a strong presence in Latin America for many years and these efforts simply allow us to better serve our distributors and customers,” said Dave Hughes, the director of business operations.
In addition, the company developed a new website and fusion catalogue, both presented in Spanish, and Rafael Quintero, the McElroy international marketing manager, transferred to Santiago in January. For more information, visit: www.mcelroy.com.
