Interim losses at desalination firm Modern Water widened but the group says it is well positioned to deliver progress in the coming months. Loss on ordinary activities before income tax swelled to £2.1m during the six months ended 30 June 2009 compared to a loss of £1.1m the same period a year earlier.On an upbeat note chairman Neil McDougall said, "Modern Water made a number of breakthroughs in the first half of 2009, with significant momentum built up across our portfolio.""Our Gibraltar proving plant began supplying water into the local system in May and this plant continues to provide an excellent platform on which to demonstrate the benefits of our desalination technology."Modern says its financial position remains strong, with £25.3m of net cash in hand.