Significant Deals Clinched at International Water Week

The recently concluded Singapore International Water Week (28 June to 2 July 2010) saw the total value of announcements for projects awarded, tenders, investments, and R&D MOUs exceeded S$2.8 billion (US$2 billion), up by 27% from last year’s S$2.2 billion, according to the organisers. The event, which was held together with the World Cities Summit this year, also saw an increase in the number of trade attendees to over 14,000 from 85 countries/regions.

“Despite the uncertain global economic recovery, water remains a key focus area for governments and industries as cities around the world continue to grow at an unprecedented rate with rapid urbanisation. Many countries continue to seek clean and affordable solutions to meet their respective needs and use the Water Week as a platform for learning, exchange and networking,” said Michael Toh, managing director of Singapore International Water Week.

Several collaborative agreements were also signed during the week including the joint development of Optiqua’s real-time sensor technology by Optiqua Technologies, a subsidiary of Dutch optical sensor company Optisense and Singapore national water agency PUB. Schneider Electric will be the technology partner in the project, which aims to develop a unique solution to enables round-the-clock monitoring of water quality. This system will enable technicians to diagnose water quality remotely and provide a proactive system that will detect contaminants. The comprehensive early warning system is aimed at helping to safeguard a secure environment and the distribution of safe drinking water.

Other significant deals closed at Water Week included the combined S$69 million contract clinched by Moya Dayen from the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority in Cambodia for Phase 1 of the Niroth Water Production Facilities Project. Awarded in two contracts, Moya Dayen will undertake the supply, delivery, and construction of a 25 metres high intake tower located in the Mekong River, a raw water pumping station and a raw water transmission main as well as other ancillary works.

Under the second contract, Moya Dayen will construct a water treatment plant which includes treated water tanks, a treated water transmission main and other ancillary buildings. When completed, the Niroth Water Production Facilities – Phase I will be one of the largest water treatment facilities, producing 130,000m3/day of potable water, to serve the greater Phnom Penh population. Meanwhile, energy, water and marine group Sembcorp, signed an MOU worth S$280 million to expand seawater desalination capacity in the UAE, and also announced that it will develop a new integrated wastewater treatment facility in Singapore, in Jurong Island’s Tembusu District.

Demonstrating the event’s growing global appeal and significance, this year’s Water Week received strong support from the global community, iincluding key international organisations, as well as the government, industry, research and consultancy sectors from 85 countries. Feedback from the participants on the Water Week and its pillar events such as the Water Leaders Summit, Water Convention, Water Expo, Business Forums and the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize has been very positive all-round, said the organizers.

“We have already begun working on the 2011 event and will continue to work on the many ideas and solutions developed and discussed at the Water Week 2010. Water Week 2011 will focus on efficient and cost-effective solutions for a changing urban environment,” said Michael Toh.

The Singapore International Water Week aims to be a global platform for water solutions, bringing policymakers, industry leaders, experts and practitioners together to address challenges, showcase technologies, discover opportunities and celebrate achievements in the water world.