Steve Steinway, CEO of Propur™ Water Purification Systems, donated 12 KING water purification systems (valued at $5,000 USD) to the Oceanside Fire District in New York for disbursement to district fire stations in need of clean water. After years of development and their launch one year ago, Propur Water Purification Systems and the innovative ProBlack-D™ domed water filter element received ANSI/NSF-42 certification and is the latest in water filter element technology.
North America
Calgon third-quarter loss reported
For third quarter 2012, Calgon Carbon Corporation reported a net loss of $0.08 (USD) per fully diluted share. Net loss was $4.5 million versus net income of $14.5 million for the comparable period of 2011. A restructuring charge of $8 million, related to a previously announced cost reduction program, included $3.7 million of severance and a $3.6 million impairment charge for the permanent closure of the company’s activated carbon manufacturing facility in Datong, China. Sales of activated carbon and service decreased by 11.6 percent, primarily due to lower demand for activated carbon in the municipal drinking water, environmental air and wastewater markets. These decreases were partially offset by higher demand for activated carbon in the food market.
IBWA support for Hurricane Sandy victims
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) worked with its member bottlers to deliver critical supplies of bottled water to victims of Hurricane Sandy. As with past disasters, IBWA member bottlers began preparing to provide substantial supplies of bottled water as the storm approached. Working in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), state, county and municipal emergency management agencies and emergency relief partners, including the American Red Cross and AmeriCares, IBWA members supplied clean, safe drinking water to hurricane victims in New Jersey, New York and other stricken areas in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
Alliance Data, RainSoft agreement announced
Alliance Data Systems Corporation announced its Retail Services business has signed a new multi-year agreement to provide a marketing-driven, private-label credit card program for RainSoft. Through the program, Alliance Data will provide cardholders with benefits, such as extended pay plans with deferred interest and attractive rates, as well as no annual fee, to help consumers finance the installation of water and/or air purification systems. Cardholders may also use the credit card to pay for continuing maintenance costs and products, such as new filters. In addition, Alliance Data will provide cardholders with full account service, including online account management, customer care and marketing communications designed to support repeat purchases and engender customer loyalty.
WSI conference draws broad spectrum of specialists
More than 900 participants from 33 states and the District of Columbia and seven foreign nations participated in the fifth annual WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in October in Las Vegas, NV. The conference program offered comprehensive professional sessions, panel discussions and pre-conference workshops. It also featured an opening keynote address by J. Carl Ganter, co-Founder and Director of the Circle of Blue website, which reports on global freshwater issues. In addition, a luncheon featured the presentation of the WaterSense Partner of the Year Awards by US EPA’s WaterSense Program and the Alliance for Water Efficiency. The sixth annual WSI conference and expo is slated for October 2-4, 2013, at the South Point Hotel and Conference Center in Las Vegas.
GE survey: Americans support water reuse
Amid growing water scarcity and concern about the future availability and quality of water, a new GE consumer survey indicates that Americans strongly support reusing water to help the US drive economic competitiveness and protect the environment. Despite the ‘ick factor’ often associated with recycled water, two thirds of Americans (66 percent) feel positive about water reuse, according to the survey of 3,000 consumers in the US, China and Singapore. The survey reports that Americans also think that industry and government should play a stronger role in making water reuse a priority.
Tyco renamed Pentair Valves & Controls
Tyco Valves & Controls announced the company’s name has changed to Pentair Valves & Controls. It will continue to deliver flow management products, services and solutions to customers around the world. The company’s broad product portfolio of valves, actuators and controls will be brought to a wider range of applications and industries, including oil and gas, power, mining, chemical, food and beverage and building and construction.
WEFTEC® 2012 attendance over 17,000
A total of 17,452 water professionals and 980 exhibiting companies from around the world attended WEFTEC 2012 in New Orleans, LA. The conference offered attendees their choice of more than 1,000 presentations in 148 technical sessions, 24 workshops, seven local facility tours, as well as several high-profile events. Key sessions and workshops featured in-depth topics, such as boosting biogas to energy, utility funding and financing strategies, trenchless rehabilitation technology, water reuse planning, wet-weather treatment and green infrastructure. Executive Director Jeff Eger and WEF President Matt Bond recognized the 2012 US Stockholm Junior Water Prize winner, Kunal Sangani, international winners Nicholas Lim and Marshall Chua Cham of Singapore and US finalists Taide Ding, Ajay Krishnan. Natalie Ng. Bond ceremoniously ‘passed the gavel’ of Federation Leadership to incoming President Cordell Samuels and inducted the 2012-2013 WEF Officers and Board of Trustees. And the 2012 Operations Challenge Competition was won for the third consecutive year by defending champion Terminal Velocity from the Virginia Water Environment Association.
Carbon Hall of Fame nominees sought
PACS Laboratories is seeking nominations for the 2013 Hall of Fame awards in conjunction with its sponsored International Activated Carbon Conferences (IACC-31 and IACC-32) and Activated Carbon School programs. Nominators need to provide a candidate resume, examples of benefits to the activated carbon industry and telephone numbers for the person making the nomination and the candidate for the award. Awardees need to provide a plenary lecture at an International Activated Carbon Conference or assign the task to another qualified individual. For more information, visit www.pacslabs.com or contact the Conference Chairman via email, [email protected] or phone, (724) 457-6576.
Europe
NSF to collaborate with Spanish laboratory
NSF International has expanded its collaboration with Laboratorio Dr. Oliver Rodés (LDOR), Spain’s premier water testing laboratory for more than 110 years. LDOR will work with NSF to test and certify Spanish water treatment, distribution and plumbing products to facilitate their export to North America and other key markets. Through LDOR and NSF International’s joint efforts, Spanish manufacturers will now have access to global compliance expertise for water treatment, distribution and plumbing products, as well as continued access to testing and certification services for bottled water. As an NSF partner laboratory, LDOR will promote and support NSF services in both Spain and Portugal.
WaterLogic supply agreement signed
Waterlogic Plc has signed a supply agreement valid until the end of 2015 with Indesit Company SpA, one of Europe’s leading manufacturers and distributors of major domestic appliances. The exclusive agreement is for the supply and distribution of advanced water purification devices designed for the kitchen incorporating Waterlogic’s innovative Firewall™ UV technology. The agreement covers 50 countries, including all of Europe and parts of Asia. The first commercial orders have already been received. All relevant units will display the Firewall branding as well as Indesit Company’s product branding. The first products are expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2013.
Asia
New UV Pure partner in Singapore
UV Pure announced it has a new distribution partner in Singapore. Neta-tech is a group of companies comprised of a forward-thinking team of specialists that operate collectively to keep ahead of the curve by providing leading solutions for non-potable urban water. Netatech offers expertise in urban irrigation design and application, water-sensitive urban design and engineering, hydro-climatic control and monitoring. They provide integrated solutions for non-potable urban water conservation and reuse, as well as managing their client’s projects through all stages of design, construction, commissioning and maintenance.