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The French-controlled island has had to impose water restrictions after seasonal rains came late — but water resources were already under pressure from a rising population. By December last year locals were reporting days going by without access to drinking water. Fluence — which makes low-energy, water treatment systems — has won a contract to supply three of its seawater desalination units for €1.5 million ($2.3 million). Delivery will take place within two months. Mayotte, situated between Madagascar and the coast of Mozambique in the Indian Ocean, is an overseas outpost of France. It consists of a main island, Grande-Terre, a smaller island, Petite-Terre, and several islets. Fluence will supply three Nirobox systems with a total capacity of 3,000 cubic metres of water a day. Water shortages were growing in frequency around the world, Fluence’s chairman Richard Irving told Stockhead earlier this month. “Critical water shortages more and more frequently in more and more countries, not just in the developing world,” Mr Irving said. The global $700 billion a year water market was undergoing major change as companies and governments moved from big centralised operations — like Melbourne’s contentious desal plant — towards cheaper, cloud-based smaller units. “Uncontrolled waste water treatment is destroying countries. The answer for all of us is decentralised treatment.” Fluence came into existence only this year, as US water services company RWL merged with locally listed Israeli technology firm Emefcy.

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