WET News

2 WET NEWS SEPTEMBER 015 COMMENT "I can't see too many investors putting their bucks into a new pumping station" SEPTEMBER 60 Meter installers at Irish Water have su ered more than 60 assaults and been threatened with guns in the past 18 months. Other incidents reported include being stalked. "I have been very impressed by MWH's high profile presence in the sector... and its commitment to drive an ambitious growth plan centred on the highest levels of client service coupled with innovative solutions. Jamie Woods, MWH's new client service director NMCNomenca saw its operating pro‰ t decline by 22.4% in the ‰ rst six months of this year despite reporting a slight increase in revenue to £41.97M. The company's parent group, NMC, reported a return to pro‰ t compared with its last full ‰ nancial year. Group pre-tax pro‰ t was nearly £0.14M for the half-year. NMC's revenue for the six months rose nearly 18% to £107.25M 22.4% 18% £113M Amey is carrying out wastewater repair and maintenance work for Yorkshire Water (YW) as part of a new £113M-plus contract. It will also support YW in protecting properties from sewer flooding. £4.2bn How much the Thames Tideway Tunnel project is expected to cost "I'm hopeful that the Innovation Exchange programme will translate into early adoption of ideas and technology by the water companies." Veolia's Mike Froom on being elected vice chairman of British Water's UK Forum. "[The acquisition] will enable the Ricardo business to start to deliver on its strategic growth objectives within the water sector in the UK and internationally" Dave Shemmans, Ricardo CEO, on acquiring Cascade Consulting. 96M The number of 'shade balls' released onto the surface of the 175-acre Los Angles Reservoir by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. The balls, costing 36 cents each, will help prevent the annual loss of 300 million gallons of water from the reservoir from evaporation. A s we were going to press, the boil water notice was still in place for parts of Lancashire as a result of the cryptosporidium contamination (see page 4), putting the water sector under public scrutiny again. Back in June, Scottish Water was in the • ring line a• er water contamination in North Lanarkshire le• nine schools closed and a ected thousands of households. In this instance, the water was apparently even un• t to be boiled. Very di erent cases, and each have their respective investions in place to deter- mine the cause. However, this is not the • rst time that cryptosporidium has got into the water supply and I'm sure it won't be the last, although I hope the other water companies will have stepped up their checks for the microscopic parasite in light of this situation. If reports are true that the Lancashire contamination was caused by animal faeces or carcass then all the water companies are going to have to do something about it. Since the traces of cryptosporidium were detected at Franklaw WTW, United Utilities has been ‰ ushing through pipes and storage reservoirs. It has subsequently deployed portable ultraviolet (UV) ray equipment as well – the bug is 'particularly vulnerable' to UV treatment. For that reason alone, why wasn't this equipment brought in a lot sooner? New look for products With Bazalgette Tunnel appointed to deliver and • nance the Thames Tideway Tunnel, it seems Ofwat is considering a similar approach for projects in the water sector. Ofwat chief executive Cathryn Ross explained: "We have taken an innovative approach to challenging costs on this project [Tideway Tunnel] and will see how we can use that method more widely in the sector. Going out for competition on the construction and • nancing costs of the tunnel has resulted in signi• cant savings, and we are keen to explore whether this could work for other big projects in the water sector." Sounds an interesting concept, but how big a project will it have to be in order to attract the investors. I can't see too many investors putting their bucks into a scheme to build a new pumping station, for instance. Equally, I can't think there will be too many projects of the magnitude of the Thames Tideway Tunnel either. It will be interesting to hear more on what Ofwat is planning. What do you think? New look for products Finally, I can't sign o without mentioning our 'new look' products feature, starting this month. With the industry seeking more innovative thinking from its contractors and supply chain, we are putting the spotlight on pioneering technologies. I hope you like it – let me know. I nfrastructure provider Bal- four Beatty has blamed a loss of £150M for the half- year to June 26, 2015 on 'historic UK problem contracts'. It indi- cated that 90% of these prob- lematic construction contracts would be completed by the end of 2016. The group's order book remains stable at £11.3bn (FY 2014: £11.4bn), with underlying revenue stable at £4,085M (2014: £4,072M). In February Balfour Beatty launched its 'Build to Last' transformation programme, aimed at driving continuous measurable improvement over the medium term. Leo Quinn, group chief executive, said: "Six months in, our Build to Last transforma- tion programme is gaining trac- tion throughout the business. We have a new senior leader- ship team and an organisation realigned with key customer sectors. We are on course to meet our 24-month targets for £200M cash in and £100M cost out. In rising core markets, the group is continuing to win business on better terms across our operations. "Inevitably the headline numbers set out the conse- quences of the historic issues that are now being tackled. However the continuing con• - dence of our customers in Bal- four Beatty's expertise, the positive response of our people to change, demonstrated by our excellent net cash perfor- mance, and the underlying strength of our balance sheet, supported by the Investments portfolio, all reinforce my con- viction that over the medium term we can provide our cus- tomers, employees and share- holders with superior returns." Notable contract wins in the UK water sector for Balfour Beatty include the Support Ser- vices division's • ve-year joint venture contract with Skanska and MWH Treatment for Thames Water to provide water asset solutions, which will gen- erate revenue of £265M. The Major Projects business suc- cesses include preferred bidder position on the main works on a section of the new Thames Tideway Tunnel, as part of a three-way joint venture with BAM and Morgan Sindall. 'Historic' contracts blamed for Balfour Beatty's £150M loss ± Balfour Beatty boss says group is on course to meet 24-month targets, as Build to Last transformation programme gains traction. MEAN MACHINE RAG, FAT, PLASTIC and other solid or fibrous debris will cause blockages, disruption and excessive downtime costs to most sewage and effluent streams. PROBLEM! There are many 'solids handling' pumps but only ONE CHOPPER pump that can provide the answer. VAUGHAN has been designed and built to perform in the most severe applications and is proven over 50 years …WHAT PROBLEM? WET WELL or DRY WELL, SUBMERSIBLE TO SELF-PRIMING… Use the right machine… A MEAN MACHINE …and there will be… NO PROBLEM. Vaughan Chopper pumps Mar 15.indd 1 04/03/2015 20:05

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