North America
Water wisdom to be highlight of WAHC
For the ninth consecutive year, the World Aquatic Health™ Conference will host global recreational water leaders who will reflect upon the latest WaterWisdom and project a wise path forward. Scheduled for October10-12 in Norfolk, VA, attendees will gather to learn from the latest research and practical science. A cross section of industry segments will attend, including leaders from academia, associations, building, consulting, retail, aquatic facilities, service, public health/government, health and medical, and manufacturers. Seminars include Recreational Water Illness Prevention, Aquatic Health Benefits, Drowning and Chronic Illness Prevention, Facility Management, Disinfection Byproducts (including a presentation by WC&P Public Health Editor and University of Arizona Associate Professor Kelly Reynolds, MSPH, Ph.D, who will discuss the standardization of health impact studies due to aquatic environmental exposures, and Other Bits of Wisdom.
Show us your rust
Pro Products is holding a summer photo contest, ‘Show Us Your Rust’, that is running now through September. All photo submissions will receive a voucher for a free gallon (3.78 liters) of liquid rust stain remover; one grand prize winner will be awarded an Apple iPad 2. The contest is open to contractors and property owners and all types of rust photos are welcome. If there is a stain that has already been remedied using Rid O’ Rust, before and after pictures are welcome. To enter, visit www.ridorust.com/showusyourrust.
Family wins national EcoWater sweepstakes (left to right: Chris Wilker, Scott and Emily Strahm, Holly and Dan Guggisberg) EcoWater Systems, LLC awarded Scott and Emily Strahm of Hancock, MN, $20,000 (USD) through its annual Soft Life™ Sweepstakes. The Strams registered for the drawing at the 2011 Morris Spring Expo through EcoWater Systems of Morris & Glenwood, the Morris, MN EcoWater dealership. The sweepstakes is designed to support over 240 EcoWater dealers across the nation.
ASPE, CIPH sign MOU
The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) and the Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating (CIPH) have signed a memorandum of understanding designed to establish a framework for cooperation that will enable the exchange of information regarding the American and Canadian plumbing products and systems industries. The agreement, which was signed by ASPE Executive Director/CEO Jim Kendzel and CIPH President and General Manager Ralph Suppa on April 24, will provide ways for the two organizations to share data on common educational, technical, scientific, legislative and regulatory matters.
WQA industrial education launched
A new web-based industrial water treatment education program from the Water Quality Association launched in May, designed to help companies raise their service personnel from doing only mechanical repair to understanding the interdependency of complex multistage treatment components and determining and meeting customer goals in the field. Visit the commercial/industrial section at www.wqa.org for details.
Investment in NanoH20 announced
NanoH2O, Inc. announced that it has closed a $40 million (USD) equity round and $20.5 million in credit facilities.The company’s patented, thin-film nanocomposite membrane technology can purify water from a broad range of sources, yielding higher productivity, better water quality or reduced energy consumption over traditional membranes. BASF Venture Capital GmbH, Total Energy Ventures International and Keytone Ventures co-led the $40 million equity financing that included all of NanoH2O’s existing investors.The $20.5 million in growth capital, working capital and equipment financing credit facilities were provided by Comerica Bank and Lighthouse Capital Partners, with the working capital line backed by the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The $40 million investment brings NanoH2O’s total equity funding to $75 million, and total debt and equity funding to over $100 million, making the Company one of the most highly funded water technology companies in the industry. Proceeds from the equity offering will enable the Company to accelerate its growth, expand its manufacturing capabilities and broaden its product offerings.
Calgon loss reported
Calgon Carbon Corporation results reported for the first quarter ended March 31, 2012 included net income of $7.7 million (USD) for the first quarter of 2012, as compared to net income of $8.5 million for the first quarter of 2011. The decline was due to higher 2012 plant maintenance costs, unfavorable product mix, and increased raw material costs in the Activated Carbon and Service segment as well as a higher proportion of our total revenue attributed to the Equipment segment. Costs related to the repair of two new reactivation facilities in Belgium and China also contributed to the decline. On a fully diluted share basis, earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2012 were $0.14 versus $0.15 for the first quarter of 2011. The company’s Board of Directors did not declare a quarterly dividend.
STEM demonstration by Dow
The Dow Chemical Company was the first company to contribute towards next year’s Philadelphia Science Festival. At the Carnival in the Parkway kick-off event, Jerome Peribere, President and CEO of Dow Advanced Materials Division, presented a check from the Dow Foundation and issued a friendly challenge to peer companies and potential supporters, pledging to increase its current contribution twofold towards the 2013 Science Festival if sponsors match the additional gift. The grant is part of Dow’s ongoing effort to get youth, educators, business and the general public excited about innovations in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), as well to advance the greater Philadelphia region as a hub for cutting-edge science and technology. Dow hosted The Science Behind Clean Drinking Water, where visitors learned about RO water filtration by pouring soda and other colored liquids into the filtration unit and watching it emerge as clean, clear water right before their eyes.
Asia
GE to deploy ZLD to India
GE announced its zero liquid discharge (ZLD) wastewater recycling technology will be installed at the POSCO Cold Rolling Mill Steel Plant in Maharashtra, India in the second quarter of 2013. This marks the first steel mill application of a complete GE ZLD system containing electrodialysis reversal (EDR).
Under the contracts signed between GE and Korean-based POSCO Engineering, GE will supply a ZLD wastewater treatment system, which includes two EDR trains for water reclamation, for POSCO’s new plant. GE also will provide technical services, including operator training, during installation and commissioning of the new facility.
HaloSource, China firm announce partnership
HaloSource, Inc. has signed a partnership with Perfect Water Purification Manufacturing Co. Ltd in China, a leading global supplier of consumer goods with $1.6 billion (USD) in sales in 2010. The partnership marks HaloSource’s entry into the direct selling channel for drinking water purification devices in China. Under the terms of the agreement, HaloPure® cartridges will be inserted into Perfect’s multi-stage purifier to deliver 99.9-percent reduction of virus and bacteria. HaloSource has granted Perfect the exclusive right to sell devices powered by HaloPure technology through its direct sales channels in the pressurized water purification segment in China. To maintain this exclusive right, Perfect is required to purchase a minimum of 500,000 units annually, representing approximately $4.5 million of revenue for HaloSource.