Bentley's Water Modeling Software Selected for Baghdad

WaterGEMS Software to Help Improve Water Quality for Millions of Residents; Meets Requirements for Future GIS-Enabled Water Management System

Exton, Pa. - October 27, 2004 - Bentley Systems, Incorporated, today announced that Parsons, a leading engineering, program management, and construction firm, in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has selected WaterGEMS, from Bentley's Haestad Methods product line, for use in major potable water system developments in Baghdad, Iraq.

Based on assessments of various hydraulic modeling programs, Parsons chose WaterGEMS for its advanced geospatial modeling capabilities. "WaterGEMS provides the capability to meet the Baghdad Water Supply Authority's requirements in developing a future GIS-enabled water management system," said Chuck Mangan, Parsons program manager. "We are confident that WaterGEMS will help our team improve the quality of water service for the millions of residents in Baghdad."

Iraq's major water treatment and pumping facilities are operating significantly below capacity, due largely to years of neglect prior to the conflict. Some water meant for consumption is untreated, and many rural communities have no access to potable water. However, improvements are under way, and an anticipated 11.8 million Iraqis will benefit from USAID's $600 million in water and sanitation projects.

Through water distribution modeling, Parsons will use a two-phase approach to identify water treatment, pumping, storage, transmission, and distribution system improvements. The initial phase includes prioritizing improvements for Baghdad's system. WaterGEMS will be used to analyze the distribution and transmission systems, and to establish gross supply and demand estimates. In the second phase, WaterGEMS will be used to identify system improvements required to expand water coverage to nearby rural areas. Successful implementation of this project will allow the city of Baghdad and its surrounding communities to use water treatment, transmission, and distribution systems to their fullest.

About Parsons 

Parsons, an engineering, program management, and construction firm, is a leader in many diversified markets, including infrastructure, transportation, medical and educational facilities, industrial processes, communications, water, advanced technology, environmental, and planning. Parsons is supporting the reconstruction effort in Iraq through multiple contracts valued at more than $2 billion for water, education, health, security and justice, and oil facilities and infrastructure. For more information on Parsons' reconstruction activities in Iraq, visit www.parsonsiraq.com

About USAID 

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years. For more information on USAID's humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts in Iraq, visit www.usaid.gov/iraq

About Bentley's Haestad Methods product line 

Bentley's Haestad Methods line of engineering software products for water, wastewater, and stormwater management includes WaterGEMS, WaterCAD, WaterSAFE, HAMMER, Darwin Calibrator, Darwin Designer, SewerCAD, SewerGEMS, StormCAD, StormGEMS, SwmmGEMS, CivilStorm, PondPack, GISConnect, FlexUnits, PumpMaster, FlowMaster, CulvertMaster, and HEC-Pack.

About Bentley 

Bentley Systems, Incorporated, provides software for the lifecycle of the world's infrastructure. The company's comprehensive portfolio for the building, plant, civil, and geospatial vertical markets spans architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations. With 2003 revenues reaching $260 million, Bentley is the leading provider of AEC software to the Engineering News-Record Design 500 and major owner-operators.