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U.S. Desalination Market Update: Policies, Projects & Trends, 2015
This Data Insight, U.S. Desalination Market Update: Policies, Projects & Trends, 2015, analyzes key developments and market shifts impacting municipal desalination development going forward. Market players are demonstrating increased optimism for future build-out with widespread concerns by regulators and utilities about water supply risks.The Coachella Valley’s Water Story
John Powell, the Coachella Valley Water District’s (CVWD) Board President joins The Water Values Podcast to discuss water in California’s Coachella Valley. As we all know, California is in the mid...The Importance of Asset Management
CH2M’s Scott Haskins, a Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Consulting, joins The Water Values Podcast to discuss asset management programs. Scott’s breadth and depth of experience in ...Taiwan Industrials Drive Supply Diversification
In September 2015, the Sewerage System Division of Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, announced a project tender to reclaim effluent from the Fengshanxi municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Through a public-private partnership agreement (PPP), Kaohsiung City aims to add 70,000 m3/day of reuse capacity in two phases through 2019, for a total investment of NT$2.64 billion (US$81 million).
Both Fengshanxi and Futian water recycling plants form part of Taiwan’s broader water reuse plan to tap six of its 41 municipal wastewater treatment plants to supply neighboring industrial park demand. The government has budgeted NT$15.08 billion (US$465 million) for all six projects to reclaim 280,000 m3/day of municipal wastewater effluent.
California Water Update Shows Project Gains
Since 1 April 2015, when California’s drought reached a political climax and the governor mandated a 25% cut in water usage for urban utilities, there has been an uptick of new supply-side projects in the state. Four desalination plants and associated infrastructure requiring as much as US$1.3 billion of investment have transitioned to the next phase of development. At the same time, Poseidon Water continues to develop its US$890 million Huntington Beach facility that has been hindered by permitting challenges.
These developments follow the State Water Resources Control Board’s (SWRB) approval of an amendment to the state’s Water Quality Control Plan for the Ocean Waters of California (Ocean Plan) on 6 May 2015. The amendment supports the use of ocean water as a reliable supplement to traditional water supplies and clarifying permitting processes for planned projects.
Membrane Technology and the Revolutionary Aquaporin Membrane
Claus Helix-Nielsen, the Vice President of Public-Private Partnerships for Aquaporin A/S, joins The Water Values Podcast to discuss the state of membrane technology and the Aquaporin A/S forward osmos...Indonesia Pipeline Awaits Policy Clarity
Since launching its 2010 Master Plan, Indonesia has amassed a sizable water infrastructure pipeline of 32 public-private partnerships (PPP) requiring over US$2.5 billion of investment in a time of reg...Policy Bottlenecks Challenge Indonesia’s Water PPP Program
Bluefield Research has released a new Market Insight, Policy Bottlenecks Challenge Indonesia’s Water PPP Program, that analyzes the current state of Indonesia’s market for new water supply infrastructure investment and provides a near term outlook for development going forward. Indonesia’s water utility segment, increasingly fragmented since decentralization began in 2000, now hosts over 350 firms, of which more than half are not financially viable.
While smaller water utilities are short of funds and struggling to meet performance criteria, the upcoming Bandar Lampung water supply project tender will prove to be crucial test for the country’s policymakers and their commitment to the PPP program. The regions of Java and Sumatra present the most developed markets for new PPP opportunities. A selection of international players including Manila Water, Abengoa, and Mitsubishi are showing interest in a market whose large scale and previous PPP experience bodes well in the long term.
This Market Insight highlights the following:
- Indonesia’s municipal water market faces a fragmented water utility sector and legal uncertainty
- Growing PPP opportunities in Indonesia’s developed markets
- Investment in future PPPs depend on legal clarity and successful water supply tender
Mato Grosso do Sul Explores Wastewater PPP
On 24 September 2015, the state government of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, announced plans to accelerate its wastewater network build-out through a public-private partnership (PPP). The state incumbent water utility, Empresa de Saneamento de Mato Grosso do Sul (Sanesul) seeks to shorten the time to reach universal wastewater coverage from 45 years to 10 years. Sanesul initially estimates an investment of R$1.7 billion(US$428 million), and will launch a tender for expressions of interest—although it has yet to publish a timeline for the plan.
In 2014 Sanesul invested R$52 million (US$13.5 million) into its wastewater network and created an integrated operating platform in preparation for outsourcing O&M. It added 166km to the wastewater collection network, but coverage levels are still low: just 28% (742,000) of the state’s population has a sewerage connection served by the firm’s 44 sewage systems and 33 wastewater treatment plants.
