North America
WQA best practices guidelines
The Water Quality Association (WQA) has unveiled an informational resource to help water treatment professionals and consumers use water treatment systems in an efficient and environmentally friendly manner. Getting Smart with Reverse Osmosis Systems is now the second pocket-sized booklet published in the Getting Smart With series. With this special publication, water treatment industry professionals are encouraged to follow a set of best practices developed by WQA pertaining to the sale, installation and maintenance of residential RO systems. These guidelines are intended to help industry professionals choose efficient water treatment systems that employ RO technology, while also sizing and installing equipment for maximum efficiency. WQA sought advice from the most respected professionals in the industry and turned to current scientific research in developing these guidelines. Consumers will benefit from the extensive set of tips to help them avoid the waste or excessive usage of water all around the home. Each tip is labeled under one of the three categories: quick fixes, smart upgrades and great investments designed to help guide consumers in making changes that fit their budget and living situation. According to Bob Hague, president of Hague Quality Water and chairman of WQA’s Reverse Osmosis Efficiency Task Force: “Not only do we want to protect our environment, but we want to protect our customers as well. This publication helps us do both.” Getting Smart with Reverse Osmosis Systems is available for digital download by visiting http://www.wqa.org/Programs-Services/Resources/Publications/Getting-Smart-Booklets. Print samples may be obtained by contacting Daniel LeBlanc at [email protected] and content questions may be directed to Eric Yeggy at [email protected].
Home desalination market rising
The market for domestic countertop water treatment devices and other point-of-use treatment systems is estimated to reach $24.5 billion (USD) by 2020. And the compound annual growth rate for the market is forecast at 9.86 percent from 2015 to 2020, according to a report by market analyst MarketsandMarkets. The report, Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market – Forecast to 2020, segmented the market on device, technology, application and region. The technology segment falls into RO systems, distillation systems, disinfection methods, filtration methods and others. The researcher forecasts the market for RO systems will show the highest growth to 2020, segmented on the basis of device into tabletop pitchers, faucet-mounted filters, countertop units, under-sink filters and others. The tabletop pitcher segment is projected to grow at the highest rate over the report period. The applications of the point-of-use water treatment systems include residential and non-residential uses. The residential segment accounted for the highest market share of the total in Point-of-Use Water Treatment Systems Market in 2014. According to the report, factors including increasing water contamination and growing awareness of the benefits of clean drinking water drive the point-of-use water treatment systems market. Scarcity of clean drinking water in developing and under-developed regions provides a growth opportunity for the market, but high equipment cost put a rein on the market. The growing popularity of the bottled-water market creates a challenge faced by the point-of-use water treatment systems market. Chief growth strategies taken by the point-of-use water treatment systems companies is development of new products and acquisitions to meet increasing demand in key emerging markets.
WWIF to use new biofoam technology
Since its launch in 2011, Wishing Well International Foundation (WWIF) has continually worked to provide safe, clean drinking water in developing areas. The foundation has focused attention on attracting sponsors and donors to complete more deployments and reach more people who lack clean water. Given the simplicity and low cost of the biosand water filters that are used during WWIF deployments, there has been little incentive to use any other type of technology or equipment to remove harmful contaminants from local water. Now, a robust study of a new biofoam water filter has proven to be a game-changing development in how water is filtered and decontaminated in rural areas. WWIF will be one of the first organizations to utilize this technology in the field. The study conducted by researchers at Michigan State University evaluated a multi-barrier, low-cost water treatment technology, BlueQ™ developed by Ada, Michigan-based Amway Corporation. It consists of a flocculation stage, a newly developed biofoam filter and chlorine disinfection, the results of which indicate removal of biological contaminants in water with significantly higher effectiveness over existing biosand equipment.
Europe
Water coolers up in Europe
West Europe’s water cooler market grew by a further two percent in 2014 to a total of 2.9 million at the end of the year, according to a new report from the sector’s leading specialist consultancy Zenith International, with point-of-use mains water coolers coming closer to overtaking bottled water coolers. The number of mains water units rose by five percent, contrasting with a 0.2 percent decline for bottled cooler numbers. Bottled coolers now account for a 55-percent share, down from 57 percent in 2013. Mains water coolers are steadily heading toward a majority share. The UK retains the lead for water cooler installations, with 24 percent of the total. Italy and France also saw modest gains, at 17-percent and 15-percent shares respectively. Many other countries achieved increases in the bottled cooler segment, but Finland and Portugal both experienced falls of six percent. Mains water coolers achieved double-digit growth in Austria, Switzerland and Germany, led by Belgium and Portugal with growth rates of over 17 percent. Spring water remains the most popular type of water in bottled coolers, though its share dropped to 30 percent of bottled cooler volume. Mineral water and purified water grew, while eau de boisson slipped back to 14.5 percent of bottle sales. Zenith forecasts that point-of-use mains water cooler numbers will continue to advance faster than bottled water cooler installations, approaching a 50-percent share by 2019.
Jacobi Carbons’ new production facility
The Jacobi Group announced that production has begun at its newest coconut-shell carbon activation plant based at Cagayan de Oro on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. Once running at full capacity (anticipated by the end of 2015), this facility will be the world’s largest coconut-shell activated carbon plant with a new level of automation, serving as a key component of Jacobi’s strategy to continually strengthen its position as the number-one worldwide manufacturer of coconut-based carbon. According to Anders Skeini, CEO of Jacobi Carbons Group, the size and sophistication of the new facility represents the state-of-the-art in carbon activation technology and will allow the company to assure a consistent supply of high-quality activated carbons for customers who are realizing the benefits of coconut shell-based carbons. Upon completion, the will have a production capacity in excess of 60,000 MT (130 million lbs.), making them the largest in the world. The Philippines facility will include a charcoal granulation plant, multiple activation kilns with a nominal capacity in excess of 20,000 metric tons per year, grinding and pulverizing capacity, specialty impregnation and water/acid washing. Founded in 1916, Jacobi Carbons Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka Gas Chemicals Co. Ltd. and an industry-leading manufacturer of activated carbon products for use in water, air and process purification applications. With production facilities around the world, they offer a full range of activated carbon products based on coal, coconut shell, wood and other raw materials, covering a wide breadth of applications.
Aquatech Amsterdam to celebrate 25th edition
Aquatech Amsterdam focuses on process, drinking and waste water technology, with an emphasis on water and wastewater treatment, transport and storage, process control technology and process automation and point-of-use. This trade event attracts the most influential market leaders and features a complete overview of the latest innovative technologies, new products and services, as well as unparalleled networking opportunities. A prominent new addition to the show floor, the Industrial User Experience, will cover key sectors such as oil and gas, food and beverage, paper, mining and chemicals. This dedicated hotspot with sessions by and for industrial water users will provide a platform to share insights into the water challenges they face and their experiences with solutions. Thousands of water industry professionals gather at this exhibition because new developments are often shown for the first time at Aquatech. The celebratory 25th edition of Aquatech Amsterdam will be held November 3-6. Inspired by current trends, the world’s largest water technology event will be welcoming new initiatives to the exhibition floor with a special focus on innovation, stormwater, industrial water consumption and waste water. For the third time in a row Aquatech Amsterdam is going to be part of the Amsterdam International Water Week (AIWW). The theme in 2015 is Integrated Solutions for a Circular Economy and Resilient Cities. The AIWW offers a varied program with a conference, the Young Water Professionals program, the Sarphati Sanitation Award, more than 40 international delegations and a detailed program of excursions. Pre-registration is free of charge via www.aquatechtrade.com
Bluewater wins prestigious international award
Swedish company Bluewater, a world leader in providing virtually contaminant-free tap water, won an Envisioneering Innovation and Design Award for its breakthrough Spirit water purifier, which delivers second-generation RO that slashes the water wastage of traditional RO solutions by up to 82 percent. In September, the new Bluewater Spirit was honored during Showstoppers IFA 2015 in Berlin, Germany. The award comes in the first year Bluewater has participated at the event, during which a select group of over 70 companies compete to win recognition for their innovation level, design and value to consumers. Envisioneering’s international team of technologists, marketers and industrial designers assessed each product, technology or service before making their choices for the ‘best of the best’ at IFA 2015 Berlin.