NORTH WEST WATER AND BECHTEL ENTERPRISES FORM JOINT VENTURE TO DEVELOP WATER PROJECTS AND RELATED FACILITIES ON AN INTERNATIONAL BASIS WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ -- North West Water (NWW) and Bechtel Enterprises, Inc. announced today the formation of a new international water company whose main focus is to develop, finance, build, own, and operate water and wastewater treatment facilities outside North America and the United Kingdom. The announcement was made by company representatives at the World Economic Development Congress' International Water Ministers Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The launching of the new firm -- known as International Water Limited (IWL) -- brings together the resources of NWW (part of United Utilities), one of the world's largest private-sector water and wastewater companies, and the San Francisco-based Bechtel organization, one of the world's foremost development, engineering, construction, and project management companies. The joint venture will initially focus on water and wastewater projects in the Asia-Pacific and Latin America regions, in addition to selected assignments in Europe and the Middle East. In the case of water and wastewater projects in the United States, work will be implemented through U.S. Water, a separate subsidiary that is jointly owned by United Utilities and United Infrastructure Company (a Bechtel Enterprises affiliate). The new North West Water-Bechtel alliance reached financial closure last week on its first project, a 45 million pounds sterling (US$68 million) award to design, finance, build and operate 10 water treatment plants for the South Australia government. The facilities will treat water drawn front the Murray River and will supply 100,000 residents of various South Australian towns and communities. The first water treatment plant is expected to be commissioned in 1997, with the remaining plants to be completed in 1998 and 1999. IWL will manage the project on behalf of North West Water and Bechtel. Additionally, NWW and Bechtel are part of a consortium that has also been selected by Scottish Water to design, construct and operate wastewater facilities for the communities of Inverness and Fort William. Gordon Waters, managing director of the International Division of United Utilities, describes water projects as "the next biggest worldwide market after power generation," and sees a future full of opportunities for International Water Limited. "While people can live without electricity, everyone has to have water," he said. "In developing countries alone, there is a huge demand for upgrading safe drinking water facilities. And as the world's population increases, the demand for clean water is only going to become more acute." Bechtel Enterprises Executive Vice President Dan Chao agrees. "There exists a need for a full-service company that is qualified to solve and manage difficult and complex water infrastructure problems on a worldwide basis," he said. "IWL can apply the global solutions needed to meet our customers' local water and wastewater needs while maintaining strong environmental safeguards that will enhance people's quality of life." NWW is part of United Utilities, the UK's first multi-utility company, which serves approximately 28 million people worldwide. NWW operates and maintains water utility assets in six countries, including more than 1,000 wastewater treatment works, over 200 water treatment facilities, more than 42,000 kilometers (26,250 miles) of water mains and over 37,750 kilometers (23,594 miles) of sewers. Bechtel Enterprises, the project development, financing, and ownership arm of Bechtel Group, Inc., has arranged or participated in more than 6 billion pounds sterling (US$10 billion) worth of project financings since 1990. The Bechtel organization has been at the center of water infrastructure development since the 1920s and has built more than 300 water and wastewater treatment projects and laid more than 80,000 kilometers (50,000 miles) of pipeline. SOURCE Bechtel Enterprises Inc CONTACT: Jeff Leichtman of Bechtel Enterprises, 415-768-9202, or Frances Lang of International Water Ltd., 44 161 886 2090/