Vivendi Water opens Berlin research centre

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VIVENDI WATER has formally launched a new water research centre, Zentrum für Wasserkompetenz, a joint venture set up with the Berliner Wasser Betriebe (BWB), three Berlin universities, the state of Berlin and various consulting and engineering companies.

The centre will undertake international water research and training as well as promote scientific exchange. Vivendi Water will support the project for ten years with funds totalling DM100 million (€51 million). The company said the centre will become “an integral component of its international water network”.

By the end of 2000, the centre will be staffed by 20 employees, half from the BWB and half from Vivendi Water. It will focus on the use of IT in water services, sustainable management of water resources and technical innovation in wastewater treatment.

Seven projects with an overall budget of DM15 million (€7. 6 million) will begin in 2000, some of which were started earlier in the year before the centre was officially opened.

Three projects deal with new types of membrane to filter phosphates and pharmaceutical products from municipal wastewater. Another involves a plan to optimise the operation of Berlin’s WwTPs.

A consortium of RWE, insurance company Allianz and Vivendi Water owns 49.9% of Berlinwasser Holding after the partial privatisation of Berlin’s water and wastewater services last year. The BWB employs around 7600 staff, operates 16 WTPs, 27 WwTPs and has a turnover of DM2.3 billion (€1.17 billion).