Suez has scooped the Desalination Company of the Year Award, and Middle East facilities topped the desal plant categories at this year’s Global Water Awards from Global Water Intelligence (GWI).
Suez’s win reflects the company’s audacious takeover of GE Water in March 2017, as well as other milestones during the year, including commissioning Mirfa Independent Water and Power Project (IWPP), and a contract for mobile desalination units in Brazil. The category Distinction went to Metito, UAE.
The Municipal Desalination Plant of the Year Award went to Mirfa IWPP, Abu Dhabi. The 1,6000 mega-watt power and 239,000 m3/d desalination plant of Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority (ADWEA), comprises new seawater reverse osmosis (RO) facilities by Suez and existing multi-stage flash from Fisia Italimpianti, with Hyundai the lead engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor. The Distinction in this category went to Umm Al Houl IWPP, Qatar.
Meanwhile the Industrial Desalination Plant of the Year Award was won by Japan IGCC Desal Plant, Saudi Arabia, a 60,000 m3/d RO plant treating a combination of seawater and treated wastewater, delivered by AES Arabia, with Technicas Reunidas as EPC contractor, and with membranes from Hydranautics. The category Distinction went to Sarlux Desal Plant, Italy.
The Water Company of the Year Award went to Evoqua, for its successful Initial Public Offering on the New York Stock Exchange on 2 November 2017. Aqualia, Spain, gleaned a Distinction in the category.
The Breakthrough Water Technology Company Award was scooped by Voltea, for successful commercialisation of its CapDI technology: it shipped 100 systems, raised $10 million in funding, opened a new robotic assembly facility, and introduced a point-of-use device, during the year. The category Distinction was won by Moleaer, US.
The Water/Wastewater Project of the Year Award went to Ulu Padan Wastewater Treatment (WWT) Pilot, Singapore, for its 12,000 m3/d, low energy membrane bioreactor pilot project, designed for the Public Utilities Board (PUB) by Black & Veatch/AECOM, and using the LEAPmbr process from Suez. The category Distinction went to El Paso zero liquid discharge (ZLD) Plant, Texas, US.
The Industrial Water Project of the Year Award was given to Arla Foods Milky Way Water Reuse, Denmark, a dairy facility utilising Grundfos BioBooseter pressurised biofilm reactors with GAC filtered vents, that achieved 50 per cent onsite wastewater reuse. The Distinction went to ABF Ovaltine Treatment Plant, Thailand.
The Water Deal of the Year Award went to Kigali Bulk Water Supply, Rwanda, a $61 million financing package for a 40,000 m3/d water plant to be delivered to Water & Sanitation Corporation (WASAC) by Metitio, in a 27-year contract. The category Distinction was awarded to Hamilton Biosolids, Canada.
The Water Technology Company of the Year Award was won by Xylem, for continuing its acquisition-led growth, buying Pure Technologies and EmNet, and for introducing the new intelligent wastewater pumping system Flygt. The category Distinction went to LG Water Solutions, Korea.
The Smart Water Company of the Year Award went to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), UAE, for installing 245,000 water meters in 2017, reducing non-revenue water to 7 per cent. The category Distinction went to Schneider Electric, France.
The Smart Water Project of the Year Award was won by Mecca Smart Operations Project, Saudi Arabia. The $13 million project of the National Water Company automated operations covering 996 kilometres of pipeline and 28 reservoirs. The main contractor was International Amaroon, with partners Xylem, Sensus, ABB, and VAG Valves.
The Water Leaders Award went to Bangalore Water Supply & Sewerage Board, Bangalore, India; with the category Distinction won by Agua y Saneamiento Argentinos (AySA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The awards are voted for by subscribers to GWI and Water Desalination Report (WDR), and early buyers of tickets for the Global Water Summit.