AMERICAS WATER IN BRIEF

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*Agbar subsidiary Aquagest Solutions has won a three-year contract to manage the commercial activities of Sedapal, which provides water and wastewater services to 8 million inhabitants in Lima, Peru. The contract, covering metering and customer relations, is Agbar’s first in the country.

* A report published by the Miller Commission hints at the possible privatisation of the Cayman Water Authority’s sewerage system, stating that “the government is seeking an independent valuation of the sewage system, and this estimate will serve as a benchmark to evaluate bids received in response to a formal offer to sell.” Budget documents published by the Cayman Islands government estimate that the sale could raise around CI$20 million (US$24 million).

* New Jersey American Water is awaiting the outcome of a Supreme Court hearing held on 22 March, which could pave the way for a swift conclusion to the company’s pending $80 million acquisition of four regulated water systems in Trenton. A group of city residents has been trying to force the deal to a referendum, and Joseph McIntyre, the city’s general superintendent of water and sewer utilities, told GWI that he expects a decision to be forthcoming later this month. If the Supreme Court rules against the petitioners, the deal could close by the end of the first half.

* Shares in Consolidated Water (CWCO) dipped 3% after the company announced that net income for 2009 was down 15% to $6.1 million on revenues of $58.0 million (down 12%). A Q4 impairment loss of $4.5 million was attributable to the fact that the Baughers Bay desalination plant in the British Virgin Islands – operated by CWCO’s affiliate OC-BVI – is likely to be superceded by a new Biwater facility.

* A Degrémont/Odebrecht consortium has signed a €170 million contract with the Panamanian Ministry of Health to design, build and operate for four years a 238,000m3/d WWTP for the capital city. The project is financed by the IADB, JICA and the Panamanian government.

* Middlesex Water Company has agreed to purchase Montague Water Company, Inc. and Montague Sewer Company, Inc. in Montague, New Jersey. The companies serve more than 2,000 people.