At a press conference on Tuesday, May 15, the Brussels region announced that, following an international call for bids issued in 1999, it had selected Aquiris, a consortium of French and Belgian companies led by Vivendi Water, to design and build the Brussels North wastewater treatment plant and operate it for 20 years. Under the 20-year BOOT (Build-Own-Operate-Transfer), Aquiris will also finance the plant and main sewer system. The Brussels region will pay an annual annuity of 49.58 million euros over the 20 year period.
The plant, to be located in the Neder-Over-Heembeek municipality, will be one of Europe's largest, with the capacity to treat wastewater for 1.1 million inhabitants.
The project meets the extremely demanding specifications set by the Brussels region. These include very advanced treatment of nitrogen and phosphorus, the capacity to treat surplus flows during rainy weather, and a ban on sludge incineration on site. The project covers:
- the construction of a treatment plant that will treat wastewater from 15 Brussels districts and seven neighboring Flanders municipalities;
- the installation of a 6.8 km wastewater collection system along the left bank of the canal, as well as the connection of a number of other sewerage pipes, including some from Flanders.
Aquiris will use Vivendi Water's proprietary technologies, including:
- the Azenit P® biological process, which ensures efficient removal of nitrogen and phosphorus while reducing carbon pollution;
- the Actiflo® process, an effective means of accelerating storm water settling using the ballasted flocculation technique;
- the Athos® wet air oxidation process, a non-combustion on-site sludge treatment that releases no polluting emissions into the atmosphere and avoids having to transport sludge away from the plant. The final residue, which is mineralized and inert, is dehydrated using the JVAP® process and may be used in road construction.
The plant is scheduled for commissioning during the first half of 2006, following an initial 22-month period of studies and obtaining the necessary permits, and a second period lasting 36 months for construction.
From an environmental viewpoint, the wastewater treatment plant will merge completely into the suburbs of northern Brussels and be designed on the basis of zero pollution principles. The facilities will be covered, sound-proofed and deodorized so as to eliminate all odors and noise, and prevent the release of any polluting emissions into the atmosphere.
The project submitted by Vivendi Environnement draws on the company's vast expertise in operating municipal wastewater treatment plants worldwide.
Disclaimer
This document contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on management's current expectations or beliefs and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: inability to identify, develop and achieve success for new services and technologies; increased competition and its effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenue; inability to establish and maintain relationships with products and services providers; inability to obtain or maintain necessary authorizations or licenses. Vivendi Universal does not undertake any obligation to provide updates or to revise any forward-looking statements. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Vivendi Universal and its predecessor, Vivendi, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov or directly from Vivendi Universal.
Press contacts
Vivendi Water
Anne Froger
Tel : 33 1 49 24 31 46
Fax : 33 1 49 24 32 71
e-mail : anne.froger@generale-des-eaux.net
Image 7 pour Vivendi Environnement
Caroline Simon
Tel : 33 1 53 70 74 65
Fax : 33 1 53 70 74 80
e-mail : csimon@image7.fr
VIVENDI ENVIRONNEMENT
Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance
Au capital de 4.673.361.892,50 €
Siège social : 36/38, avenue Kléber - 75016 Paris
403 210 032 RCS PARIS
VIVENDI WATER
Société anonyme au capital de 3.816.194.986 €
Siège social : 52, rue d'Anjou - 75008 Paris
421 345 042 R.C.S. Paris
History of wastewater of the city of Brussels :
Urban Waste Water: Commission decides Court application against Belgium (22 April 1999) - European Commission DG XI
Commission report on urban waste water treatment shows significant progress in most of Europe (21 January 1999) - European Commission DG XI
