Palm Utilities, part of the Dubai World Group, has been nominated for an award in the GWI Global Water Awards 2009, which will be presented in Switzerland.

Palm Water's Palm Jumeirah Crescent project has been selected as one of the candidates of the Global Water Awards 2009's 'Membrane Desalination Plant of the Year' category, having been recognised for its technological breakthrough and enormous potential for future seawater projects in the region.

The project has been selected as one of the candidates for the prestigious award along with similar projects in Saudi Arabia, Australia and Spain.

Palm Utilities was awarded the coveted 'Water Deal of the Year' for Palm Water's Jumeirah Golf Estate project during last year's GWI Global Water Awards.

'Palm Water's nomination again reflects the successful growth strategies that Palm Utilities has implemented in 2008,' said Mahmoud Al Hindi, operations director, Palm Water.

'Furthermore, it reassures our clients that we remain dedicated to provide world-class and premium-standard services and water solutions that are duly recognised and appreciated by our peers in the industry.'

The Palm Jumeirah Crescent is the first of a pair of seawater reverse osmosis desalination plants in the Palm Jumeirah resort, which will have a combined capacity of 64,000m3/d. The project combines ultrafiltration (UF) and reverse osmosis (RO) membranes in a design that has proven itself to be robust against tough environmental conditions.

The use of UF pre-treatment membranes for seawater desalination on a large scale in the Middle East was a significant technological breakthrough that was highlighted by the GWI Global Water Awards, as it offers enormous potential for future seawater projects in the region.

The GWI Global Water Awards recognises global efforts that address various challenges in the water sector.

Palm Utilities, through its two primary divisions of Palm District Cooling and Palm Water, has been established to address the region's unique requirements in the distinctly critical areas of cooling and water.-TradeArabia News Service