EARTH TECH NEWS
EARTH TECH CONSORTIUM SIGNS CONTRACT WITH THE WATER SERVICE FOR NORTHERN IRELAND'S FIRST WATER PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
Investment Program to Improve Drinking Water Quality, Meet EU Standards
LONG BEACH, Calif. (May 30, 2006) – Earth Tech Engineering Ltd., as part of the Dalriada Water Limited consortium, signed a 25-year contract with the Northern Ireland’s Department for Regional Development Water Service today to undertake Northern Ireland’s first public-private partnership drinking water project. The Dalriada Water consortium is comprised of Earth Tech, Kelda Group, and Farrans.
Earth Tech, a business unit of Tyco International Ltd. and a global provider of consulting, engineering and construction services, will provide design and construction management services for the project. The existing water treatment facilities located at Ballinrees, Castor Bay, Forked Bridge, Dunore Point and Moyola will remain under Water Service ownership and the Dalriada Water Limited consortium will be responsible for upgrading the facilities and associated infrastructure. Water Service will continue to operate the sites until this upgrade is complete.
“By partnering with the Water Service, Earth Tech and Dalriada Water will bring together the best talent possible to deliver top quality water to residents across Northern Ireland,” said Tony White, managing director of Earth Tech’s operations in the United Kingdom and Ireland. “Our approach provides a very efficient, cost-effective solution to meeting present and future water needs for these communities while providing the best value for the money.”
The £110 million (US $207.4 million) capital investment program will bring the treatment system, which provides almost half of Northern Ireland’s drinking water, into compliance with European Union standards and improve its quality. In addition, the Dalriada Water team will install new water distribution mains leading from the treatment facilities to reservoirs at some of the sites. The project involves work and services procured under a Design/ Build/Finance/Operate contract. The selection of the Dalriada Water team took 24 months from the time the project was originally announced.
Dalriada Water will commence construction on the project immediately. The existing facilities will remain in operation until the refurbished plants are in service. Once completed, the new infrastructure will provide 400 million liters (105 million US gallons) per day of fresh drinking water. Construction is expected to be completed in mid-September 2008. Once the treatment facilities are online, Dalriada Water will operate and maintain the improved facilities for 23 years.
Earth Tech has designed, built, and operates water and wastewater facilities in the United Kingdom, Hungary, Mexico, Brazil, Venezuela, Australia, the United States, and China. Earth Tech is also collaborating with Kelda on Project Aquatrine, the United Kingdom’s largest public-private water initiative, and the Aberdeen wastewater treatment facility in Scotland. In Northern Ireland, Earth Tech and Farrans have jointly built many water and wastewater plants, including Dorisland, Derg, Mourne, Lough Macrory, Carran Hill, Fofanny and Clay Lake.
Earth Tech is a global provider of a full suite of engineering, construction and operations services to the international water/wastewater, environmental, transportation, and facilities markets. A business unit of Tyco International Ltd. and part of the company’s Engineered Products & Services segment, Earth Tech employs more than 8,000 talented people, delivering services to customers in 15 countries. Founded in 1970, Earth Tech is headquartered in Long Beach, Calif. More information on Earth Tech can be found at www.earthtech.com.
Tyco International Ltd. is a global, diversified company that provides vital products and services to customers in four business segments: Electronics, Fire & Security, Healthcare and Engineered Products & Services. With 2005 revenue of $40 billion, Tyco employs approximately 250,000 people worldwide. More information on Tyco can be found at www.tyco.com.
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