EMIT of Italy in joint venture with the local Alsim Alarko has won a $41 million contract for work on a scheme to combat pollution in the Izmit bay on the sea of Marmara, a prime tourist development area.

The project comprises the construction of five wastewater treatment plants and two sea outfalls. The client is Iller Bankasi. Other bidders for the project included France's Degremont and OTV, the UK's Balfour Beatty and John Laing, and US-owned Babcock & Wilcox.

The project is one of a series aimed at improving environmental conditions in tourist resort areas. Other schemes under way include a project in the southern resort of Antalya, which is financed by the World Bank and the European Investment Bank. A joint venture of Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners of the UK and the local Su Yapi is working on designs for water supply, sewerage and stormwater drainage works in the resort. The client is the Antalya Water & Sewerage Authority (MEED 19:7:96).