The City of Atlanta and USFilter Operating Services, Inc. (USFilter), a part of Vivendi Environnement (NYSE: VE and Euronext Paris: VIE), have signed a long-term, $200 million agreement for the development and management of an innovative,
city-wide program that will produce Class A biosolids by recycling 90 percent of the wastewater solids and sludge produced by the city's wastewater treatment plants. The reuse program will enable the city to substantially reduce the use of incinerators and generate an environmentally beneficial fertilizer that will be available to Atlanta citizens at no cost for personal, residential use.
The public-private partnership agreement calls for USFilter to oversee a $54 million design and construction phase and then operate and manage the city's wastewater reuse program that will produce and market approximately 100 dry tons per day (dtpd) of Class A biosolids. These biosolids are safe, nutrient-rich organic materials that, when separated from wastewater and processed according to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards, can be recycled as a fertilizer to improve and maintain soils and stimulate plant growth.
In making the announcement City of Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin said, "We are confident this contract will prove beneficial to the City of Atlanta." She added, "though it is a long-term contract, we feel we have all the necessary controls in place to monitor whether or not USFilter is meeting all the terms of the agreement."
The scope of work is multi-faceted. USFilter will manage a design and construction phase of two new biosolids treatment plants - a 60-dtpd system at the R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center and a 40-dtpd unit at the Utoy Creek Water Reclamation Center - as well as the refurbishment of equipment at the city's four existing wastewater reclamation centers. The new treatment plants will utilize an indirect drying method for wastewater solids designed and manufactured by Segher's Better Technology. During the construction phase, USFilter will operate the city's current waste disposal program that involves the incineration of approximately 60 percent of its waste excess. The rest will be transported to local landfills.
"This public-private partnership will allow the City of Atlanta to maximize the environmental benefits of biosolids," said Mayor Franklin. "We are committed to providing our residents a better quality of life in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.
City of Atlanta residents living around our wastewater plants will benefit from reduced odors and less truck traffic in their communities. In addition, as a result of recycling we will completely shutdown our wastewater solids incinerators and preserve valuable landfill space."
Following completion of the new Class A biosolids facilities, USFilter will operate and maintain them. Additionally, USFilter will be responsible for the marketing of the Class A biosolids pellets to local agricultural outlets and eventually to commercial users of fertilizer filler or for other high-end users such as on golf courses or plant nurseries.
Franklin added that the biosolids pellets produced from this process will be provided to the residents of the City of Atlanta, free of charge. "Hopefully, we will take advantage of the opportunity to enhance the beauty of our communities by using biosolids to fertilize our gardens, lawns and plants."
This partnership helps establish Atlanta as an industry benchmark when it comes to wastewater reuse, according to Ron Davis, executive vice president and general manager for USFilter Operating Services. "The City of Atlanta is one of the few major U.S. cities to make an innovative and environmentally sound shift from traditional waste disposal to a high-end, comprehensive beneficial reuse program. Working closely with the city, we're combining some of the most advanced biosolids technologies with environmentally sensitive and economically attractive operating approaches to create a program that provides the city with significant economic and environmental advantages," said Davis.
To help implement the program, USFilter will partner with Brasfield & Gorrie and minority-owned businesses Khafra Engineering and Metroplex Industries on engineering and construction services. The facilities will use a number of USFilter technologies including Asdor conveyor systems, J-SPIN™ horizontal centrifuges and digesters.
USFilter is the largest biosolids service provider in the United States. The company provides biosolids management services to more than 130 communities and handles approximately 275,000 dry tons per year of dry biosolids and more than 312 million gallons per year of liquid biosolids.
United States Filter Corporation, a Vivendi Environnement company, is North America's largest water company providing comprehensive water and wastewater systems and services to commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers. Vivendi Environnement (Euronext Paris: VIE and NYSE:VE), comprised of Vivendi Water (worldwide water products and services), Onyx (solid waste and industrial services), Dalkia (energy management), Connex (transportation and logistics) and FCC (Spanish company engaged in environmental and construction related industries), is the largest environmental services company in the world with more than 295,000 employees, including FCC, in about 100 countries and annual revenues of more than $25.6 billion. Visit the company's web sites at www.usfilter.com or www.vivendienvironnement-finance.com.
Important Disclaimer. Vivendi Environnement is a corporation listed on the NYSE and Euronext Paris. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but not limited to: the risk of suffering reduced profits or losses as a result of intense competition, the risk that changes in energy prices and taxes may reduce Vivendi Environnement's profits, the risk that governmental authorities could terminate or modify some of Vivendi Environnement's contracts, the risk that Vivendi Environnement's compliance with environmental laws may become more costly in the future, the risk that currency exchange rate fluctuations may negatively affect Vivendi Environnement's financial results and the price of its shares, the risk that Vivendi Environnement may incur environmental liability in connection with its past, present and future operations, and the risks related to Vivendi Environnement's relationship with Vivendi Universal, as well as the risks described in the documents Vivendi Environnement has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Vivendi Environnement does not undertake, nor does it have, 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 Environnement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from Vivendi Environnement.
Press contacts :
Vivendi Water
Adeline Brice and Nathalie de Lataillade
Tel : + 33 (0)1 49 24 30 49/ 34 17
e-mail : adeline.brice@generale-des-eaux.net
nathalie.de-lataillade@generale-des-eaux.net
Image 7 for Vivendi Environnement
Monique Denoix
Tel : +33 (0) 1 53 70 74 57
e-mail : mdenoix@image7.fr
About Biosolids : (pdf file from EPA website)
BIOSOLIDS APPLIED TO LAND: ADVANCING STANDARDS AND PRACTICES
(Review Draft-PREPUBLICATION COPY)
National Research Council-July 2002
National Academy Press Washington, DC
