North America
Exclusive support club for Rotobrush®
Rotobrush International LLC recently launched RotoVantage, an exclusive club that provides customers the tools and support needed to drive a successful service business. Members benefit from lifetime business and marketing support such as training, Web site development and hosting, discounts on equipment and supplies, 24/7 technical support, a business assistance hotline and coaching, marketing materials, press releases and more. With this new club, the company provides an opportunity for members to network with other RotoVantage community members to gain and share knowledge on best practices and proven business and marketing techniques that maximize profits and success.
New lead standard clarified
New lead content requirements for plumbing products have been added to California’s Health & Safety Code, Section 116875 (commonly known as AB 1953), which goes into effect January 1, 2010. After this date, any pipe, fitting or fixture intended to convey or dispense water for human consumption through drinking or cooking must meet a weighted average lead content of <0.25 percent. The requirement of this law was incorporated as an annex into NSF/ANSI 61, Annex G. The NSF 61 committee is currently conducting a series of round robin testing with manufacturers, product certification organizations and the California Department of Toxic Substances to validate a referee analysis method for alloy lead content when materials testing materials is required. When completed, the method will be incorporated into the standard.
Hague named top exporter
Hague Quality Water, International received the 2009 Small Business Environmental Exporter of the Year award from the Export-Import Bank of the US (Ex-Im Bank) in April. The 100-employee, family-owned and operated company has been a water treatment industry leader for almost 50 years and the bank’s customer for 13. Using the bank’s multi-buyer short-term insurance, Hague has increased export sales by 87 percent over the past five years, aggressively expanding into fast-growing international markets with environmentally beneficial equipment that creates clean drinking water and promotes energy and water efficiency.
AquaPRO certified by NSF and UL
NSF International announced that AquaPRO Systems is the first pump manufacturer to receive certification to both NSF/ANSI Standard 50 – Equipment for Swimming Pools, Spas, Hot Tubs and Other Recreational Water Facilities and ANSI/UL 1081 – Standard for Swimming Pool Pumps, Filters, and Chlorinators. Certification to these standards for pool pumps verifies compliance with the American National Standards for these products, which establish performance and safety requirements. By achieving certification, AquaPRO Systems can place the NSF mark on its certified pumps.
So~Safe RO systems delivered
So~Safe recently delivered brackish water reverse osmosis systems, capable of producing up to half a million gallons (1.8 million liters) of potable water every day, to the armed forces. The system was designed to incorporate the latest technologies currently offered for water desalination. A number of computer-aided models were used to forecast plant performance to ensure an economical operation and a prolonged service life. The system was designed in two trains, each capable of producing 250,000 gallons (946,353 liters) daily.
Artemis Project rankings announced
Winners in The Artemis Project™ (San Francisco, CA) Top 50 Water Companies competition were recently announced. The event recognized innovators worldwide who are making significant contributions to water quality. Candidates were selected by a panel of industry experts based on an integrated matrix of four criteria: technology, intellectual property and know-how, team and market potential.
SolarBee®, Inc. was awarded the number six ranking out of 120 candidates. Its solar-powered water circulators help improve water quality in freshwater lakes and reservoirs, potable water tanks and wastewater lagoons. MIOX Corporation placed ninth in the competition. The award distinguishes the company as a leader that is helping to build one of the great high-growth industries of the 21st Century.
Rebate program for Extech
Extech Instruments, a subsidiary of FLIR Systems, Inc. announced another year of sustained growth with record sales of $48 million (USD) in 2008. As a reflection of the economic downturn, the company launched its landmark Recession Relief rebate and prize program, designed to make handheld test and measurement equipment more affordable. Rebates will range from $15 to $200 (USD) and a camouflage ‘boony’-style bucket hat. Customers receiving rebates are automatically entered to win a $500 (USD) American Express gift card. The program expires June 30. Visit www.extech.com for more information.
Teledyne Tekmar rep announced
Teledyne Tekmar Company named the J.J. Wilbur Company as the newest addition to their sales team, representing Tekmar in the Northeastern Territory. J. J Wilbur has been providing laboratory and process solutions for over 24 years. Its mission is to represent companies that lead in technological advancement. Teledyne Tekmar will capitalize on this partnership as an opportunity to leverage the experience and success of J.J. Wilbur and build upon it with Tekmar’s line of analytical instruments.
WaterSmart event expanded
Responding to increased demand, the second WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition is offering an expanded expo hall for prospective exhibitors for this year’s conference, slated for Oct. 7-9, in Las Vegas, NV. More than 180 exhibit spaces this year mark a 12-percent increase over last year’s highly successful inaugural conference and expo, when demand exceeded capacity. Information on securing an exhibit booth is available at www.WaterSmartInnovations.com.
Parkson expansion announced
Parkson Corporation’s new water research facility recently opened in Pompano Beach, FL, to provide piloting of water and wastewater technologies. It includes an on-site laboratory, designed to speed the evaluation of process-effectiveness testing, support product design and development activities and support management of necessary maintenance for installed pilot units. The primary objective of the operation is to facilitate water-related research and to accelerate the development of new water and wastewater technologies. In addition, the facility will investigate and enhance value-engineering improvements to the company’s existing products on a continuing basis.
NGWA news
Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and US Representative John Linder (R-Georgia) received 2009 Ground Water Protector Awards from the National Ground Water Association (NGWA). The award honors people in government, industry and the private sector for their public service efforts in conjunction with ground water conservation, protection, and use. Secretary Salazar is being recognized for his leadership while serving in the US Senate in promoting tax credits for geothermal heat pumps as an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly tool to help address the nation’s energy needs. Rep. Linder is being recognized for his leadership on the Congressional Water Caucus and issues pertaining to ground water and other water resources.
Trademark registration for Nimbus
Nimbus Water Systems has been granted a Certificate of Registration for the Green By Design® trademark by the US Patent and Trademark office for water treatment and water purifying equipment. The company’s label can be found on selected products, such as its five-stage WaterMaker Five residential reverse osmosis system and new R1500 light commercial system. These systems have been engineered to reduce wastewater while delivering high-quality reverse osmosis drinking water.
Latin America
NGOs supported by Water For People
Water For People awarded $24,000 (USD) to organizations addressing the needs for water and sanitation in the Dominican Republic at its conference in Santo Domingo. More than 15 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) presented some of the water and sanitation needs in the Dominican Republic and how Water For People and others can help address them. Awards were presented to eight NGOs for their sustainable programs.
Europe
Aquatech Amsterdam moves to 2011
In close consultation with the industry, Amsterdam RAI has decided to move the next Aquatech Amsterdam to the autumn of 2011. The 24th edition of the world’s leading trade exhibition on process, drinking and wastewater will now take place from November 1-4, 2011 in Amsterdam. From this time onwards, the show will be held every two years (in the uneven years) in the autumn.
NHC campaign announced
New market analyst data shows that UK bottled water sales fell by seven percent last year, but that 71 percent of that decline came from people buying other soft drinks instead. The research revealed that Britons are drinking almost seven billion extra calories by replacing bottled water with sugary drinks. Based on the data, the Natural Hydration Council (NHC) launched a new advertising campaign, which promotes the health benefits of water.
Severn Trent division relocated
Severn Trent Services’ European Water Purification Division has moved to the Birch Coppice Business Park near Tamworth, UK. Construction of the purpose-built, 19,000 square-foot (1,765 m2), two-story facility was completed in early May. The company will move 70 employees from its headquarters in Minworth to the office park. The division is a leader in developing advanced technologies and products focused on disinfection, filtration, arsenic removal and ballast water treatment.
Asia
New Indian RO dealer
Water purifier manufacturer Kent RO Systems is all set to enter the estimated Rs 300 crore low-cost mass-market water purifier segment, the Top News in India announced. According to the latest reports, the company was set to launch a low-cost purfier in the gravity storage purifier segment in May. Kent, which claims a 30 per cent share in the RO segment, will also focus on the computer-controlled RO purifier segment as part of its plan. Enhancing its marketing network by increasing the number of distributors from 300 to 500 and doubling the number of dealers from 1,000 to 2,000 in this fiscal year is also planned.
Water awards announced
Singapore’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) was crowned Water Project of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2009 in Zurich, Switzerland in April. DTSS will be showcased at the Singapore International Water Week 2009, along with many other innovative and sustainable water technologies and infrastructures. The annual Global Water Awards, organized by the Global Water Intelligence, is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious symbol of achievement in the global water industry.
More pharmaceuticals in water found
Two federal studies in the US have suggested that significantly more pharmaceutical residues exist in wastewater downstream from treatment works that treat waste from drug companies, Water 21 reported. The studies found a range of substances including opiates, a barbiturate and a tranquilizer at much higher detection frequencies and concentrations in such plants than at those without pharmaceutical customers. One drug, a muscle relaxant, was measured in treated wastewater at concentrations hundreds of times greater than that at which regulators can call for a review of a drug’s environmental impact.
Parkson expansion announced
Parkson Corporation’s new Water Research Facility recently opened in Pompano Beach, FL that provides for piloting of water and wastewater technologies. It includes an on-site laboratory, which is designed to speed the evaluation of process-effectiveness testing, supports product design and development activities and support management of necessary maintenance for installed pilot units. The primary objective of the operation is to facilitate water related research and to accelerate the development of new water and wastewater technologies. In addition, the facility will investigate and enhance value-engineering improvements to the company’s existing products on a continuing basis.