Two years ago, Oman Water Treatment Company (Owatco) became the only firm in Oman's waste water treatment sector to achieve ISO9001 quality certification, which also recognises its designing skills.

This achievement came within five years of starting operations in 1993. The company, which started off as a manufacturer of water treatment equipment, now has a projects wing which can build water and waste water treatment plants on a turnkey basis.

Today, Owatco holds the distinction of being the firm which has clinched Oman's first water supply contract awarded on a build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) basis. The Salalah water supply project, which runs for 15 years from January 2001, is worth RO4.3 million ($16.55 million). It will serve five communities involving a total of 2,500 people, says N Manivannan, general manager.

Outlining the firm's range of services, Manivannan says: ''Owatco undertakes design, manufacture, assembly, fabrication, installation and commissioning for water and waste water treatment projects. In a short time span, Owatco has become the undisputed leader in this business. A dedicated and professional staff complement the fully-equipped manufacturing unit and in-house laboratory.

''Owatco's mission is to provide cost-effective state-of-the-art solutions to meet the challenging demands of varying clientele. The company has built up a reputation for troubleshooting through its professional approach, commitment to quality and has a track record in complete customer satisfaction.

''The company furnishes custom-designed systems and standard plants in a range of capacities for clients around the world. From lab analysis and treatability studies, through process design and equipment selection, project management, construction, installation and start up, Owatco can provide a total integrated solution. Our operating support, maintenance service and training ensure that the system works as designed. We also have the capability to build, own and operate the production facilities.''

Registered as an 'excellent' grade water and waste water firm with the Tender Board, the company is an approved supplier with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO).

Owatco is a specialist company and even when the times were hard the company continued to concentrate on its line of specialisation, says Manivannan.

Commenting on the market, he says: ''Oman is not a big market and we need to look at other markets within the GCC. We have spread our wings to Dubai and Bahrain. Given our experience, the GCC market should open up for us. In Dubai, we have installed a small sewage treatment plant (STP) for Emirates Towers Staff Accomodation, for the Engineers Office - a prime client. The latter project was erected on a fast-track basis.

''In Bahrain, work on a 450 cu m STP, under a subcontract from Cybarco, is nearing completion.''

Among other developments, the company has a tie-up with an Australian firm to offer vacuum sewage collection technology.

''This technology comes into its own in existing townships and along coastal locations. It is suitable for retrofit jobs as it involves minimum disruption to services during the installation. We expect the construction sector to zero in on to this technology because of its advantages.''

Owatco has secured a RO200,000 order from the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Environment to supply and install vacuum sewage collection system - the first to be installed in the Sultanate, according to Manivannan.

A growing sector of his business is effluent treatment, says Manivannan. ''As governments tighten up on environment regulations, we are sure this sector will grow. We have already built five to six plants last year. Our best-selling product is prefabricated sewage treatment plants (mobile STPs). We have received a lot of interest from Abu Dhabi.''

Commenting on the competition within the market, he says: ''Competition is stiff and we have met resistance in some segments because we are a local manufacturer.

''However, we have the best local design capability and we have developed the intricacies of the plant and therefore we can offer prompt after-sales service. We have a competitive edge because of our high quality service and cost.

''We produce a quality product, we went in for ISO certification and are PDO-registered - all of which has carried us into the export market.''