World News

1 US – Arizona

The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) has completed its first groundwater remediation project using solar energy and saved nearly $13,000 in energy-related costs as a result. Two solar-powered blowers were used as a power source in a process in which gas was removed from wells at the Rainbow Valley Citrus Maintenance Yard in Goodyear. The clean up of the site began in 2012 and was completed on schedule in June.

2 US - Washington

Bureau of Reclamation Acting Commissioner Lowell Pimley has said $1.29 million will be provided to nine projects located in California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, for Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse Feasibility Studies. The first funding group will receive up to $150,000, completed within 18 months. The second funding group will receive up to $450,000 (up to $150,000 per year).

3 Mexico

Singapore desalination company Hyflux International has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mexican infrastructure bank – Banco Interacciones – to develop water projects in Mexico. A statement from Hyflux said that MoU will see the two organisations work together to explore early stage and pre-specified greenfield water-related and infrastructure projects in Mexico. Banco Interacciones has been involved in 60% of Mexico's water treatment projects in the last decade. Bloomberg reported that the Bank has to date identified two projects for Hyflux.

4 Bahrain

The Bahrain Ministry of Works is due to float a tender to build a $462 million wastewater treatment plant in the country's Northern Town development, currently under development. The 40,000 m3/day project will be funded by the Abu Dhabi government. Works Minister told Gulf Daily News that the project will be opened up to tender within the next two months.

5 Cyprus

Cyprus's sixth desalination plant located in Vassilikos has been inaugurated by president Nicos Anastasiades. Costing 46 million euros, the 60,000 m3/day facility was supplied by Israeli desalination company IDE Technologies to the Electricity Authority of Cyprus under an engineering, procurement and construction model. The plant will use reverse osmosis membrane technology to desalinate seawater.

6 Australia

SUEZ Environnement subsidiary Degremont has acquired Process Group in Australia which specialises in engineering, design, fabrication, commissioning of equipment for the global Oil & Gas industry. Generating 60 million euros annually, Process Group provides technology solutions for the oil & gas industry, including gas dehydration and produced water treatment.

7 China

A luxury private residential complex in Jinan, the capital city of China's Shandong Province, has recently installed a Hanovia ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system to treat its drinking water. After UV treatment the water quality meets WHO guidelines for drinking water quality, as well as the requirements of China's National Bottled Water Standard (GB19298-2003).

8 Germany

Aquarion Group has acquired the assets of Hager + Elsaesser (H+E) GmbH, based in Stuttgart, Germany, a European water technology solutions provider. With this acquisition, Aquarion Group is expected to generate more than €70 million in annual revenues. H&E focuses on industries including semiconductor and microelectronics, power generation, petrochemical (downstream), solar, pulp and paper, food and beverage production. H+E will join other Aquarion Group companies including H2Oil & Gas in Scotland.

9 Sweden

The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management (SwAM) has invested 10 million Swedish kronor (US$1.5 million) into six different projects for the purification of wastewater from pharmaceutical residues. The awarded projects will use different cleaning technologies, such as activated carbon and ozone to treat micropollutants from households.

10 France

As part of a development programme to extend the 'Achères Seine Aval' wastewater treatment in Paris, Xylem will provide over 150 Flygt pumps. Treating 1.5 million m3/day of wastewater in the Paris region, the plant is being modernised to contribute to maintaining the water quality of the Seine River. As part of the contract, a total of 94 Flygt submersible column pumps, 32 centrifugal pumps and 15 pumps from 5 to 22 kW will be supplied.

11 Scotland

As part of a £100 million new whiskey distillery in Scotland, Veolia Water Technologies will provide a £2.5 million wastewater treatment plant to the Edrington Group. The Macallan Distillery in Craigellachie will see wastewater treated on site to meet SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) consent for discharge to the River Spey. Technologies supplied will include a dissolved air flotation unit, following by a membrane bioreactor.

12 England

GE has acquired UK wastewater company Monsal which has installed over 200 anaerobic systems. Based in Mansfield, the company provides advanced technology to treat biosolids and biowaste and converts it to renewable energy and by-products. As part of the agreement, GE said it will take Monsal's technology, integrate it with its own and sell it globally.