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In Global Water Intelligence this month
Need to know
- India needs to find $100 billion over the next 25 years to clean up the Ganga river basin....
- Meanwhile in China, the National Development and Reform Commission have unveiled a pipeline of more than 1,000 PPPs...
- Vietnam has taken the first steps along the road to developing a viable water PPP market, naming two projects as pilots to trial the new PPP Decree. Despite the optimism, tensions between...
- California has moved to curtail the volumes of water that holders of senior water rights with priority dates of 1903 and later can divert...
- The severity of the current drought begs the question of whether California’s century-old system of “First in time, first in right” water allocations is fit for purpose...
- Desalters hoping for a wealth of opportunities in the light of the drought in Texas will have suffered a double disappointment this month...
- As large-scale seawater desal in the US has struggled to gain traction, bi-national projects such as the one being developed by Consolidated Water in Rosarito, Mexico, have long been heralded as...
- Algerian national wastewater utility ONA is looking to move towards financial autonomy over the next five years through a combination of tariff rises and new revenue streams, including the sale of treated wastewater effluent...
- CH2M has agreed to a $300 million preferred equity injection from private equity house Apollo. It is an unprecedented move for the employee-owned company, but it seems to be the best way to kickstart growth after...
- Planners both in and outside the Palestinian West Bank are hoping that a World Bank agreement will help break the deadlock on the expansion of local wastewater treatment infrastructure...
- Israeli fine bubble aeration specialist Mapal Green Energy has become the latest water tech company to announce plans to go public through a listing on London’s AIM market...
- The planners at King Abdullah Economic City in Saudi Arabia are starting to make the management of their water and wastewater utilities a priority again...
- American Water is considering moving its headquarters from leafy Voorhees, NJ, to the grittier environs of Camden, in order to take advantage of $164 million in tax credits which are available under the Grow New Jersey programme...
- Suez Environnement, meanwhile, opened its new North American headquarters in the altogether more pleasant city of Paramus, NJ, on 12 June...
- Nick DeBenedictis has handed the day-to-day running of Aqua America over to Chris Franklin, the company’s COO of regulated operations. Although Franklin is unlikely to rock the boat too much, he is keen to develop...
Project Tracker
Charting the progress of over 900 Desal, Reuse and PPP water projects in the international water industry.
Download a sample(Subscription Requried)
| PROJECT | COUNTRY | UPDATED | STATUS | TYPE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sterling Nat... | United States | 20 Jul 18 | The Arcadis/Ba... | Reuse |
| Okhla WWTP | India | 20 Jul 18 | The bid submis... | WWTP |
| FGUA O&M, FL | United States | 20 Jul 18 | The shortlist ... | Utility |
| Michelson WR... | United States | 20 Jul 18 | At its meeting... | Reuse |
| Los Alisos M... | United States | 20 Jul 18 | At its meeting... | Reuse |
Opinion
Performance goes first
Christopher Gasson looks at why idealistic views of water governance may be holding back the...
The Texas desal massacre
Ian Elkins examines the fallout from the state’s draft 2016 water plans.
David Lloyd Owen - How can we optimise the way we measure leakage?
How can we optimise the way we measure leakage?
The rise and rise of Chinese BOTs
Willy Yeo explains why BOTs are the new normal for Chinese firms.
The art of trading in employee-owned futures
Christopher Gasson asks what CH2M’s latest financing move means for engineers.
Booms, busts, and the next big thingWater needs to keep looking beyond the horizon, says Amanda Brock.
Why Israel won’t save California
Israel is in an enviable position when it comes to water management and technology. Its lessons...
News & Features
CH2M aims to grow on Apollo buy-inThe employee-owned engineer lost money last year, but a $300 million private equity injection has...
California regs threaten desal buildingAn amendment to state law has threatened to ratchet up the cost of desalination. It has also...
Mapal tests UK tech investor appetiteThe Israeli wastewater firm is the latest to opt for a UK stock exchange listing. How will...
ONA angles for financial autonomyAlgeria’s wastewater body is taking control of its finances with an ambitious five-year...
Recent municipal elections raised the threat of private water services being brought back...
Private cash to plug Ganga spending gapIndia needs $100 billion to clean up the Ganga. With public budgets running far short, where will...
Vietnam hits the switch on PPP rolloutThe country’s PPP apparatus is falling into place with its first ventures into tendering....
GWI Water Index
It is easy to forget the value of a balanced portfolio when a record outperformance by one segment of the market leaves another eating dust. Who were the winners and losers this month?
Water on the markets this month:
| GWI Index | Value | Change | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Water | 154.54 | -3.56% | 10 Jun |
| Asian Water | 104.62 | -6.53% | 10 Jun |
| EMEA Water | 90.98 | -3.01% | 10 Jun |
| Americas Water | 245.89 | -2.12% | 10 Jun |
Market Profile
Despite volatile oil prices and a number of governments tightening their purse strings, global water spending is set to see significant growth in 2016 and beyond. A new report from GWI report outlines the major opportunities.
Chart of the month
The industrial brine concentration market: capex 2012-2020This month’s chart comes from our annual global water market forecast update (see Market Profile).
Americas
CH2M aims for growth on Apollo mission
The employee-owned engineer lost money last year, but it is not letting that hold back its ambitions. A $300 million capital injection from private equity giant Apollo will help it grow – and invest in the projects it builds.
California desal regs kick off intake debate
Amendments to California’s extensive desalination regulations have threatened to bulk up the cost of desal, just as the state looks to the sea to address its rampant drought. The state’s biggest private desal champion is fighting back.
Military base utilities sound 50-yr retreat
The rash of tenders for 50-year water and wastewater utility contracts at US military bases has eased off, while short-term contracts seem to be gaining momentum. What are the dynamics of the market?
Energy firms seek partners for water growth
Two major players in the energy efficiency sphere are trying to establish themselves in the water business through tactical partnerships. Will conservative bidding models be a barrier to energy optimisation for US water utilities?
STS staffs up to bolster contract ops ambitions
A new line-up at Severn Trent Services’ North American contract ops division could make the difference between stagnation and greatness. Questions over the firm’s long-term client commitment remain.
Market awaits final water allocation at Rosarito
The large-scale desalination plant being developed by Consolidated Water at Rosarito in Mexico has long been hyped as an alternative to siting a plant in California. Will any of the plant’s output make it north of the border?
Aqua aims for non-reg growth
The new CEO of Aqua America is likely to pursue non-regulated growth more than his predecessor. Nick DeBenedictis’ legacy still remains intact.
Asia pacific
Modifications save Sydney Water millions
Australia’s largest water utility is looking to take its wastewater pumping operating expertise to the world.
NDRC lifts the veil on Chinese PPP plans
China’s National Development and Reform Commission has released a pipeline of 1,000 PPP projects, of which 220 involve water or wastewater treatment. Although not exhaustive, the regional priorities make for interesting reading.
Private cash to plug Ganga spending gap
India’s government is ramping up spending on cleaning the Ganga river basin, but the capital requirements are far beyond its capabilities. Radical changes are being tabled to bring more private money into play.
Ganga calls for data consultants
Anti-pollution planners need statistics to clean up the Ganga river basin.
Vietnam’s PPP office cranks up the engine
Vietnam’s PPP apparatus is rolling into place, with several pathfinder PPPs approaching the starting gates. International interest is high, although tensions between local and central government could delay progress.
GHD unlocks British water with GHA buy
GHD has secured its first foothold in the UK water space after a series of recent acquisitions in North America. Its sights are now turning to the other side of the Channel.
Europe
VENTO gets a taste for water investment
Aqualogy’s start-up platform with the Spanish government has the potential to become an important part of the European innovation ecosystem. It has just made its first investment in water.
YW’s fresh take on derivatives
Following a ratings downgrade in April, Yorkshire Water has reduced the near-term risk in its swaps portfolio. The solution did not come cheap.
Thames Tideway faces new delay
Has the UK government had second thoughts on the mega-tunnel project?
UK water struggles to rein in bad debt
The full-year figures from the regulated UK water industry were marred by increases in bad debt provisions at the two biggest companies in the sector. Will things get worse before they get better?
How indispensable is Spanish private water?
The recent municipal elections in Spain have re-ignited the threat of water services being brought back in-house. A grim national scorecard for meeting EU directives may mean that private sector participation is unavoidable.
Middle East and Africa
Mapal set to test UK tech investor appetite
The Israeli wastewater treatment technology firm is looking to raise capital via a listing on London’s alternative investment market. It joins a long list of water tech flotations, but will the burden of going public prove too high?
Japanese secure Doha desal mega-project
Mitsubishi Corp. has carved out a place at the top of the desal tree in Qatar with the award of one of the world’s largest water projects. The Facility D plant will also mark a major switch in desalination technology in the emirate.
West Bank struggles with sewerage roll-out
The World Bank is backing a new wastewater treatment plant in the West Bank. Many more will be needed.
Ajman concessionaire ramps up treatment
One of the Gulf’s most groundbreaking contracts has paid dividends as populations and economies grow.
Desalination puts the cherry on the KAEC
One of Saudi Arabia’s least understood development projects is making new moves towards outsourcing its utility service provision. It is part of a rising trend of industrial utility outsourcing in the Kingdom.
New deadline for Egypt PPP
Will the long-delayed Abu Rawash plant finally see the sunlight this time?
ONA moves towards financial autonomy
Algeria’s progressive wastewater utility wants to reduce its reliance on government hand-outs by developing new revenue streams. Convincing the government to implement tariff reform will be a tougher ask.
Managing expectations in Algeria
The country’s wastewater utility still needs international expertise, despite its harsh criticism of past water management contracts.
News in brief
Beijing Origin Water-backed Chinese project developer Yunnan Water raised HK$1.5 billion ($193 million) by selling 25% of its equity via a Hong Kong IPO on 27 May after the retail tranche was more than 350 times oversubscribed.
AquiSense Technologies has closed a Series A funding round in tandem with the acquisitions of Halma’s mercury-free PearlAqua UV-C LED technology line and UV-C LED device testing company Dot Metrics Technologies.
Following a cabinet reshuffle ordered by Algerian president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in mid-May, minister of water resources Hocine Necib has been replaced by Abdelouahab Nouri, the former minister of agriculture and rural development.
The £265 million acquisition of Mouchel by Kier Group was completed on 8th June, just days after Kier launched a heavily discounted rights issue.
