The Aragón Government has awarded FCC's subsidiary Aqualia, a specialist in end-to-end water management, a 20-year contract for the design, construction and operation of the wastewater treatment plant in Utebo, Zaragoza. The contract represents more than 92 million euro in revenues.

The plant will have a treatment capacity of 40,000 m3/day and will serve more than 133,000 people in seven municipalities, including several areas of Zaragoza city: Utebo, Casetas, Pinseque, Garrapinillos, Torres de Berrellén, Sobradiel and La Joyosa. The contract includes the execution of an extensive investment programme worth over 28 million euro.

The new contract is part of the Special Sewage Plan (PED) implemented by the Aragón Government in 2004. As part of this Plan, in 2006 Aqualia obtained the contract to design and build another 13 wastewater plants and sewers in various municipalities of Teruel province and to subsequently operate them for 20 years.

Through this project, the Aragón Government will treat wastewater in towns with more than 1,000 inhabitants, meaning that 60% and 90% of the region's wastewater will be treated. The ambitious plan, which is currently being studied by the OECD as a prime example of public-private partnership (PPP), envisages the construction of 132 plants and more than 40 sewers, which would benefit more than 600,000 people. This plan places Aragón at the forefront in fulfilling the European Directives, which require that all wastewater is treated by 2015.

Aqualia operates in over 850 municipalities worldwide, serving over 23 million people. It operates in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Algeria, Czech Republic, Poland, Mexico and China. In recognition of its rapid international expansion, its will to lead and its commitment to its service territories, in 2007 Aqualia was named "Water Company of the Year" by prestigious international magazine Global Water Intelligence, a fitting tribute to its track record and international scope.