Harrington Park, NJ, Nov 15, 2007, 9:00 AM
United Water announced today that the company has signed a new contract with the city of Indianapolis to manage the wastewater treatment facilities and sewage collection system. United Water, whose current contract ends December 31, 2007, has operated the Indianapolis facilities through a public-private partnership since 1994. The City County Council selected the firm for the new contract period following a competitive proposal process.
The new nine-year contract with Indianapolis, which takes effect January 1, 2008, is renewable in 2017 and 2023. The transaction represents $28.5 million in annual revenue for United Water with the opportunity for an additional $7 million in annual incentives based upon innovative operating efficiencies and enhancements.
“We’re honored that we have been selected to continue our partnership in Indianapolis,” said Tony Harding, CEO of United Water. “The confidence that the City County Council has placed in us demonstrates the value that United Water’s public-private partnership brings to the community. This includes operating efficiencies which have translated into $250 million in savings for the city over the last 13 years, our investment of over $2.5 million to support more than 600 non-profit organizations and environmental improvements which have earned 22 Peak Performance awards from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies.”
“Our partnership with United Water has placed Indianapolis in the top five percent of all wastewater systems in the United States based on environmental compliance awards,” said Bart Peterson, mayor of Indianapolis. “This is exactly the type of results-oriented service we have come to expect through our partnership with United Water. That’s what makes them the best choice to advance our goal of cleaning up the rivers and streams in Indianapolis and joining us in our Clean Stream/Healthy Neighborhood programs.”
In addition to operating the advanced Belmont and Southport wastewater treatment plants, which have a combined capacity of 250 million gallons per day, United Water also maintains 3,000 miles of sewage collection system, operates the Eagle Creek Dam and provides laboratory services and industrial pretreatment monitoring.
“Treating water and continuously raising the bar for water quality standards is part of our job,” said Harding. “We’ve used new technologies, maintenance and management techniques to reduce overflows during rain events. We’ve helped the city decide the best ways to invest in an aging infrastructure. That’s only one measure of the success of this public-private partnership.”
According to Harding, United Water is most proud of the impact the company has had in the Indianapolis community. In addition to investing $2.5 million through its community relations and environmental grant programs, United Water has mentored more than 250 Arlington High School students through its innovative Adopt-A-School program. More than 95 percent of these students went to college or received full-time employment upon graduating high school. The new contract calls for continuation of these community outreach programs and adds an exciting environmental partnership element that focuses on support of the city “Green Print” program, looking for ways to further improve the local environment and develop alternative energy sources.
United Water, one of the nation’s largest water services companies, is a subsidiary of the SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT division of the SUEZ Group, which supplies sustainable solutions for essential environmental services (water, sanitation and waste services) to industrial and individual customers around the world.
Public-private partnerships with municipalities, such as Indianapolis, continue to be key components in United Water’s measured growth strategy, explained Harding.