Industry Partner Program
The Water Quality Association (WQA) has launched a new Industry Partner Program (IPP) with companies and organizations that provide financing, marketing, insurance and other services that support the water treatment industry. The IPP allows participating companies the opportunity to interact with WQA members.
IPP members are listed on the WQA website and can use the IPP logo on promotional materials to indicate their affiliation. They receive discounted pricing for WQA Convention & Exposition sponsorships and booth rental fees and special recognition during Convention. The IPP also provides WQA benefits such as discounted Career Center fees and Convention registration, access to the WQA Knowledge Base as well as weekly podcasts and newsletters keeping them up to date on the water treatment industry and WQA news and events.
The following companies have joined the IPP: Aqua Finance, Inc., Dataman Group Direct Mail, Foundation Finance Company, IAPMO, Independent Savings Plan Company (ISPC), Preferred Credit, Inc. and Watercolor Management. More information about the program can be found at wqa.org/ipp or at the WQA booth (#725) during the 2018 Convention taking place March 26-29 at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO.
WQA/ASPE Sustainability Standards
The case for sustainable products and processes is becoming more and more apparent. From sourcing more sustainable raw materials to finding new ways to lessen the environmental impacts of production, manufacturers are expanding their offerings in the sustainable marketplace as the environment continues to move to the forefront of public and media attention. However, sustainability is about more than generating positive press. Sustainability is a growing area of certification because most sustainability initiatives actually produce a positive return on investment over time, beyond just increasing sales revenue.
WQA’s Sustainability Certification Program allows retailers and consumers to verify that a product has been manufactured according to industry standards for recognized best practices in environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. The two primary standards available for certification are WQA/ASPE/ANSI S-802: Sustainable Water Treatment Media and WQA/ASPE/ANSI S-803: Sustainable Drinking Water Treatment Systems.
WQA/ASPE/ANSI S-802 has been revised to expand the scope to include ion exchange resins as well as to include cation water softeners and other products that utilize ion exchange resins (such as pour-through pitchers and inline filters). In areas with hard water and droughts, consumers are more likely to seek out softeners that are more efficient and that can decrease chloride discharge levels. The new edition of S-803 addresses these concerns with its criteria that provide assurance to both consumers and regulators that the water treatment industry is contributing their part to offer practical solutions to this problem. For more information please contact WQA Sustainability Certification Manager Stuart Mann at [email protected].