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The following is a transcript from the May 12, 2011, episode of the WaterWorld Weekly newscast.
Hi, I'm Tom Freyberg from Water & Wastewater International, bringing you this week's global water and wastewater news headlines. Coming up...
• Desalination contract agreed in world's most arid region
• Water and power facility inaugurated in Middle East
• Water reservoir capacity boosted in the Philippines
• Major water clean up backed by New Zealand government
• Dutch facility reduces water usage by 20%
• South East England launches £50 million meter program
[story1]
Chilean mining company CAP has signed a contract with Spanish firm Acciona Agua to design, build and operate a reverse osmosis desalination facility in the Copiapó Valley in Chile's Atacama desert.
The contract is worth US$63.5 million and the facility will have an initial capacity of 17,000 m³/day, eventually increasing to a maximum of 52,000 m³/day.
Acciona has previously built four wastewater plants in Chile, ranging from 5,000 to 158,000 cubic meters per day capacity.
[story2]
A facility on the Gulf of Oman that will produce almost 600,000 m³/day of water and 2,000 MW of power has been officially inaugurated.
The Fujairah F2 Independent Power and Water Plant is owned by the Fujairah Asia Power Company, made up of International Power GDF Suez, Marubeni Corporation of Japan, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company.
Electricity and water produced will be sold via a 20-year Power and Water Purchase Agreement to the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company.
This is the first inauguration in the Middle East since GDF SUEZ Energy International and International Power combined their businesses in February.
[story3]
Major water company Maynilad Water Services in the Philippines will be investing the equivalent of 1.8 million euros to build three additional water reservoirs in Quezon City.
Once complete, the three reservoirs will have a combined capacity of 10,000 m³ -- enough water to supply nearly 12,000 households.
The reservoirs will help the firm store water during off-peak periods for distribution to customers during high-demand.
Maynilad President and CEO Ricky Vargas said: ìWe want to improve water supply reliability in Quirino and Roosevelt at the soonest possible time so we are adopting modular designs in building these reservoirs."
[story4]
New Zealand's government has pledged $400 million to ensure the country's water supply is properly managed following recommendations from the Land and Water Forum.
After being asked in 2009 to look at how freshwater is managed in New Zealand, the forum advised the government over standards and limits for water quality and quantity, urban water issues, water allocation and new infrastructure.
The funding will include almost $265 million to help clean up waterways and $35 million set aside over five years to support irrigation infrastructure.
Recommendations under the plan are expected to be put in front of the Cabinet by February 2012.
[story5]
Science solutions provider DuPont has managed to reduce fresh water intake by 91,000 cubic meters per year at one of its biggest production plants in Europe.
The firm achieved a 20% reduction in water used annually by targeting cooling tower and implementing a comprehensive water treatment program from GE. Chloride concentration was also reduced in the intake cooling water.
The project ties in with DuPont's sustainability aims to reduce water consumption by at least 30% over the next ten years.
GE said the initiative helped lead to a bottom line financial return of $175,000 for this project.
[story6]
South East Water will be installing 200,000 water meters across parts of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire, Berkshire and Surrey in England over the next five years.
The £50 million scheme forms part of the company's five-year investment program from 2010-2015.
The program is due to start in Summer 2011 with the aim that by 2020, 90% of customers will be metered.
The South East region has been classed by the Environment Agency as an area of serious water stress.
For Water & Wastewater International, I'm Tom Freyberg. Thanks for watching.
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