Our research team regularly tracks key water sector news.  Below is this week’s highlights. Do you think we missed anything? Let us know!

Deals & Market News

• City West Water Expands Geospatial Water Modelling City West Water Limited (CWWL), Australia, has awarded Innovyze (formerly MWH Soft) a contract for its InfoWorks WS water modelling software. With this selection, all three of Melbourne’s state-owned metropolitan water retailers rely on Innovyze for comprehensive wet infrastructure modelling and management solutions. http://www.waterlink-international.com/news/id1781-City_West_Water_Expands_Geospatial_Water_Modelling.html

• Aging water distribution systems are target of new MOU. Wachs Water Services and Veritec Consulting Inc., a Miya Group Company, today announced a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at further helping utilities ensure reliable and sustainable operation of aging water distribution systems. “This MOU provides our clients with the added value of incorporating in-line leak detection technologies, valve maintenance, hydrant assessments and GIS information services to immediately enhance water distribution system operations,” said Alain Lalonde, Principal, Veritec Consulting Inc. http://www.waterworld.com/index/display/article-display.articles.waterworld.drinking-water.distribution.2011.03.Aging-water-distribution-systems.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

• H2O Innovation secures water treatment contracts in North Africa, Russia and North America. Under new contracts worth C$7.8 million, H2O Innovation is to supply custom-built water treatment systems and equipment to power generation and industrial end-users in Northern Africa, Russia and North America. http://www.filtsep.com/view/16856/h2o-innovation-secures-water-treatment-contracts-in-north-africa-russia-and-north-america/

• KPMG wins Ghubrah IWP preparatory contract. With a capacity of around 42 MIGD (191,000 m³/d), the Ghubrah IWP will be largest greenfield seawater desalination project to be developed in Oman with an estimate project cost of US$ 350 million. http://www.desalination.biz/news/news_story.asp?id=5841&title=KPMG+wins+Ghubrah+IWP+preparatory+contract

Financings

• ET Water Systems Completes $2 Million Investment Round. ET Water Systems, Inc., a green technology services company that specializes in water conservation, management, and smart irrigation control, today announced it has closed a $2 million investment round. The Series C round was subscribed to by the company’s existing leading investors. http://www.waterefficiency.net/the-latest/etwater-series-c.aspx

Other

• Intelligent Use of Water: Is Australia’s Model the One to Follow? Water rights in Australia are now decoupled from ownership of the land and can be bought and sold or traded separately. By changing the economics, Andrew Gregson, the CEO of the New South Wales Irrigation Council said, “water efficiency increased dramatically.” He added, “If we put a dollar value on every liter of water a farmer uses they will necessarily use it to its most efficient level.” http://www.triplepundit.com/2011/03/intelligent-water-australias-model-one-follow/

• Chrétien’s call to Canada: Don’t be afraid of water-exporting debate. Former prime minister Jean Chrétien says it is time for Canadians to debate whether they should share their water with the rest of the world, noting the country exports other natural resources such as oil and gas. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/chrtiens-call-to-canada-dont-be-afraid-of-water-exporting-debate/article1952297/

• US Government and World Bank Memorandum of Understanding on Water Cooperation. The United States Government (USG) and the World Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on World Water Day, March 22, with the goal of creating a more water secure future for the world.  http://www.cfr.org/natural-resources-management/fact-sheet-us-government-world-bank-memorandum-understanding-water-cooperation/p24475

• PwC: Clean tech sector enjoys M&A frenzy. Merger and acquisition activity across the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors has recovered strongly in the wake of the global economic downturn, according to a major new report from PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). The value of US and European renewables and energy efficiency acquisition reached $26bn. http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2037552/pwc-clean-tech-sector-enjoys-frenzy?WT.rss_f=&WT.rss_a=PwC%3A+Clean+tech+sector+enjoys+M%26A+frenzy

• General Electric’s Ecomagination Chief Goes to Samsung. Steve Fludder, who headed up General Electric’s Ecomagination unit, was the public face of GE’s green strategy and a frequent public speaker. Last year, he outlined the company’s second five-year plan for green technologies, which particularly emphasizes exploiting IT technologies for efficiency. Fludder has moved on to Samsung last year in a very quiet transition. He is now the executive vice president overseeing that company’s energy strategy. http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/general-electrics-ecomagination-chief-at-samsung/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+greentechmedia-all-content+%28Greentech+Media%3A+All+Content%29

• World Water Day Brings a Flood of Corporate Commitments. Hilton Hotels’ Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Nestle Waters North America, ScottsMiracle-Glo, GE, Nalco, Teva, Asia Pulp & Paper all announced water-related pledges, commitments, or initiatives. http://www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/03/22/world-water-day-brings-flood-corporate-commitments?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Greenbuzz+%28GreenBiz+Feed%29

• As Water Scarcity Risks Grow, Investors Persuade Electric Utilities to Disclose Water Management Plans. In response to shareholder requests, three leading electric utilities, Dominion, Southern and PPL, have agreed to significantly expand reporting and disclosure on water availability risks and plans for mitigating those risks. http://www.waterefficiency.net/the-latest/utilities-expanded-reporting.aspx