NEWS IN BRIEF – EUROPE

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* Germany leads Europe on reducing unaccounted-for water. Distribution losses are just 7.3% of total water supplied, according to the gas and water federation, BGW.

By comparison, water losses in England and Wales are put at 19.2% and in France, at 26% of total water sales. “Water losses in France are equivalent to about 25% of total drinking water deliveries in Germany,” says the BGW. It says the drinking water sector has invested an average €2.5 billion/year over the last 15 years, divided into about 65% spent on pipeline networks and 10% each on water sourcing and water treatment. Investment in wastewater has been running at twice the level of drinking water investment, at around €5 billion/year.

* Energis, part of the RWE Energie group, has entered into a public-private partnership with the parish of Nalbach, with about 10,000 inhabitants, in the state of Saarland. The two have set up a water association named Wasserzweckverband Nalbach. Nalbach has 51% in the enterprise, and Energis 49%. In turn, the water association has 49% and Nalbach a 51% share in a new wastewater association, Abwasserzweckverband Nalbach. Energis already has nearly 30 participations in municipal water, wastewater and energy enterprises in Saarland.

* A consortium of Degrémont (Suez), OTV (Veolia Water Solutions and Technology), Hídépít (Vinci Group) and Alterra (Colas Group) has been awarded a contract by Budapest City Council to design, build and operate the country’s largest wastewater treatment plant. It will have a capacity of 350,000m3/d in dry weather and up to 900,000m3/d in wet weather, and is expected to serve 1.5 million people when it comes into service in 2010. Degrémont and Veolia have joined forces as equal technology partners, while the local companies will handle civil engineering. The total contract value includes €250 million for the design and construction and €41 million for four years’ operation.

* Siemens Water Technology has announced a cooperation agreement with Mekorot National Water Company in Israel for developing water technologies for the international market. Mekorot is commercialising its operations, although it has yet to find a partner to participate in international water projects.