(May 3, 2012) - Winning trophies and Distinction certificates were presented at the Global Water Awards ceremony for 2012 in Rome on April 30. The event was held as part of the Global Water Summit 2012 (organized by GWI/IDA*) to recognize the most important achievements in the water industry over the past year. The Awards were presented by the Summit's Guest Speaker, Craig Venter, the first to sequence the human genome and now pioneering the development of synthetic organisms to address the challenges the world now faces.
The Awards this year were in eight categories:
• Water Reuse Project of the Year
• Water Deal of the Year
• Desalination Company of the Year
• Water Technology Company of the Year
• Public Water Agency of the Year
• Industrial Water Project of the Year
• Desalination Plant of the Year
• Water Company of the Year
Shortlisted for Water Reuse Project of the Year were:
• The Brightwater treatment plant in Washington, which combines a unique split-flow design with the largest application of membrane bio-reactor treatment to date – a demonstration of how the technology has come to dominate the US market.
• The Marrakech project in Morocco, the first integrated power-generating sewage treatment plant in North Africa, and an installation which single-handedly turned an environmentally disastrous sitation into a valued local asset.
• The Old Ford Water Recycling Plant in Britain, where a severely-restricted situation driven by the re-use needs of the 2012 Olympics was turned into a blueprint for water recycling in one of the world’s most water-stressed regions.
• and the SAFI RO plant in the UAE, which is pioneering advanced water reuse in a conservative region, with a full-cost-recovery financial model that could provide a solution to sustainable infrastructure development as the Gulf’s water needs rise.
The Distinction went to SAFI RO
The Winner was Brightwater
Shortlisted for Water Deal of the Year were:
• The El Realito aqueduct funding package in Mexico, where a large group of local lenders were brought together to supply an elegant tailored funding solution for a complex project. Repayments were handled through a unique split tax and tariff solution.
• The Muharraq wastewater treatment plant financing in Bahrain, which proved that private finance is still a serious option in the Middle East, achieving speedy close on the first major debt-funded project in the water and wastewater sector since the start of the Arab Spring.
• The Mundaring financing in Western Australia, which marked a model for the future of the state with its first-ever privately financed water project. The pragmatic approach of lenders provided a route to success in tricky financial times.
• The funding of the Soreq plant in Israel, which cut down on the unique risk factor of the project and took advantage of low interest rates by engaging local lenders for the first time in nearly a decade through a carefully-arranged currency syndication option.
The Distinction went to Mundaring Project
The Winner was El Realito
Shortlisted for Desalination Company of the Year were:
• Doosan, which extended its peerless reputation as a pioneer of thermal desalination, pushing the boundaries of MED technology while continuing the successful commissioning of MSF installations. Its rapidly-growing membrane division also cracked open the US market for the first time.
• GE Water, which pushed the boundaries of desal technology by establishing itself as the supplier of choice in the two most exciting niches of the business – industrial oil and gas wastewater evaporation, and containerised modular desal plants.
• Osmoflo, which burst onto the global stage in 2011 a string of high-profile and high-quality industrial contract wins, as well as a canny corproate link-up with Marubeni that puts it in prime position for growth in the future.
• and Valoriza Agua, which cemented its position at the top table in desalination by combining global growth and R&D investment with the commissioning of its long-awaited groundbreaking projects in Australia and Israel.
The Distinction went to Doosan
The Winner was GE
Shortlisted for Water Technology Company of the Year were:
• Bluewater Bio, which pushed itself into the mainstream in 2011 through shrewd management and sheer determination. Key partnerships opened up markets in the UK and USA, while some smart acquisitions significantly boosted its capabilities.
• Nalco, which has found a place at the cutting edge of sustainable industrial water technology, saving money and the environment in the membrane market with plans to do the same for wastewater. A linkup with Ecolab put it on a great footing for growth.
• Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies, which made a stunning debut as an international player, taking advantage of regulatory drivers to establish an impressive presence in the value-from-waste market with wins in Canada and the UK.
• and Xylem, which stepped out from under the wings of ITT to establish itself as the world’s largest water pure-play, with a matchless reputation for technological innovation. Its range of technologies now cover the comprehensive spectrum of wastewater needs.
The Distinction went to Xylem
The Winner was Nalco
Shortlisted for Public Water Agency of the Year were:
• The Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, which future-proofed its assets for decades to come with a massive overhaul of its network. The emirate’s sewerage system is now the envy of its neighbours, and an example to the whole region.
• The Korea Water Resources Corporation, which completed an astounding transformation of the country’s water ecology. Billions were spent on rivers lakes and seas to harness Korea’s natural resources in the most efficient and sustainable way.
• The National Water Company in Saudi Arabia, where a legacy of poor customer service and reliance on subsidy was turned into a modern success story through the careful implementation of a modern corporate structure, and the exploitation of new business streams.
• and SA Water in Australia, which created a truly groundbreaking programme of education and investment that will pay dividends in one of the world’s driest regions, and help to regenerate a sorely overworked natural water system.
The Distinction went to National Water Company
The Winner was South Australian Water
Shortlisted for Industrial Water Project of the Year were:
• The AEP bioreactor system in West Virginia, which spells an end to the problems of harmful selenium in power plant wastewater streams using a sustainable microbe system, which supports itself while keeping toxic chemicals from the environment.
• The Cartagena Refinery Demineralisation Plant in Spain, which proved that zero-liquid treatment solutions can work in the most demanding environments, with its faultless design handling multiple feedwater streams on a heavily developed site.
• The Gippsland Water Factory in Australia, which effortlessly combines the demands of municipal and industrial treatment to create a project that has become a leading part of regional and national wastewater planning.
• and the Pearl GTL complex in Qatar which has gone far above and beyond the industry norm for oil and gas wastewater treatment to set a new global standard of excellence for the industry.
The Distinction went to Cartegena Refinery Demineralisation Plant
The Winner was Pearl GTL
Shortlisted for Desalination Plant of the Year were:
• The Ad Dur IWPP in Bahrain, which proved doubters wrong and stands as a potent symbol that large-scale membrane desalination can be a winning option in the Gulf.
• Fujairah 2 in the UAE, which elegantly balances MED and membrane desalination in a perfect demonstration of the independent water and power project business model.
• Souk Tleta in Algeria where business nous and clever plant design combined to overcome the twin difficulties of political instability and tricky pre-treatment requirements.
• and the Southern Seawater Desalination Plant in Australia, which emerged as the new champion of the green desal movement by minimising environmental impact and relying entirely on renewable energy to power the plant.
The Distinction went to Veolia
The Winner was Australian Water Corporation
Short listed for Water Company of the Year were:
• Abengoa, which extended its reach into a host of new markets around the world. Menawhile it established its credentials in desalination and extended the reach of its EPC business, at the same time as smoothly completing a complex corporate restructuring.
• CH2M Hill, which cemented its position as a leading player in the US market while taking a massive step forward in its overseas business with the acquisition of Halcrow. Global growth was matched with social responsibility through its WaterMatch initiative.
• Degremont, which made serious strides establishing itself as an operating company with major Australian contracts. At the same time its reputation as a plant contractor par excellence continued to grow with the string of high-profile wins.
• and GS Engineering and Construction, which transformed the company and took the international water market by storm with the spectacular purchase of Inima, as well as growing a presence as a specialist contractor in key markets like the Middle East.
The Distinction went to Degremont
The Winner was CH2MHill
The next Global Water Awards will be held at the Global Water Summit 2013. The American Water Awards will be held in Chicago Nov. 14, 2012.