A persistent shortage of potable water in the City of Algiers, Algeria was eased today as the US $250 million Hamma Seawater Desalination Plant (SWDP) was officially opened by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and Jeff Garwood president and CEO GE Water & Process Technologies, a unit of General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). Completed on time and on budget in 24 months the Hamma SWDP uses GE’s advanced ecomagination-certified reverse osmosis membranes to purify up to 200,000 cubic meters (53 million gallons) of seawater per day and provide Algiers with a sustainable, new source of fresh water—enough for 25 percent of the city’s daily needs.