AMERICAS WATER NEWS IN BRIEF

United Water has renewed its water services agreement with the community of Huber Heights, Ohio.

 The 4-year renewal covers the operation and maintenance of two water treatment facilities with a combined capacity of 11.46 MGD (43,375m3/d), and is worth more than $10 million of cumulated revenue.

*York Water has become the third listed US water utility to tap the equity markets this year, raising $14.1 million via an offering of 1.07 million shares priced at $14.00 per share. Boenning & Scattergood and Hilliard Lyons led the offering, the proceeds of which will be used to pay down debt taken out to fund acquisitions and capex.

*American Water has been awarded 50-year O&M contracts for the water and wastewater systems at Fort Belvoir, VA and Fort Meade, MD. The Virginia award is worth $288 million, while the Fort Meade contract is worth $650 million. It brings to ten the number of military installations served by American Water. 

*On the regulated side, American Water has acquired three water systems from municipal authorities in Pennsylvania for a combined purchase price of approximately $935,000. The company also raised $28.5 million in 5.25% 30 non-call 10 tax-exempt water facility revenue bonds in Illinois, and $26 million in 5.625% 30 NC 10 taxexempt water facility revenue bonds in Kentucky. l

*Severn Trent Services has renewed its water and wastewater O&M contract with the City of Prichard, AL, for a further five years. The multi-million dollar per year deal was won following a competitive bid process. 

*Balfour Beatty has agreed to buy employee-owned US engineering firm Parsons Brinckerhoff for approximately $626 million. Balfour Beatty provides heavy civil engineering and construction services for water and wastewater projects in the US, while PB has a broad presence in water in the Middle East, acting as owner’s engineer on the Fujairah 2 IWPP in the UAE and the Ras Laffan IWPP in Qatar. It is also involved in the design of the upcoming Melbourne desalination plant in Australia. In 2008, Parsons Brinckerhoff posted revenues of $2.34 billion.