Dow Technologies Make Undrinkable Water Drinkable
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Access to clean, adequate drinking water is a problem affecting more than one billion people worldwide each day. The Dow Chemical Company understands the criticalness of the global water challenge and is committed to developing cost effective technologies for water purification and desalination. Because of this, many of Dow’s businesses continue to develop new processes and technologies to provide breakthroughs that supply cleaner and safer water to those in need.
Through its products, Dow Water Solutions (DWS) helps provide clean water for both industrial and drinking water applications. Products include a robust portfolio that addresses many global water purification needs. DWS world-class purification technologies include reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration membrane technology, ion exchange resins, titanium-based arsenic removal media, ultrafiltration and electrodeionization modules.
Dow is the leading global supplier of FILMTEC™ reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membrane technology. DWS is pilot testing its new 16-inch diameter RO modules which contain nearly four times the membrane of the previous 8-inch diameter lowering the cost of capital required for desalination system by 10 to 20 percent.
Around the world, FILMTEC is a key component of the seawater desalination efforts. The largest seawater desalination plant in the Southern Hemisphere – a plant in Perth, Australia – is designed to provide drinking water for its more than 200,000 residents. There, Dow elements enable the desalination of 144,000 m³ of seawater per day. On the other side of the globe at the largest seawater desalination plant in the United States, 25 million gallons of water per day are produced with the help of 9,408 FILMTEC RO elements at the Tampa Bay Seawater Desalination Plant in Florida. This advanced technology has made seawater desalination a drought-proof water resource for coastal regions.
Another major water issue is the deteriorating water infrastructure in developed countries. Water loss from leaking pipes running can be as high as 50 percent in some cases. Securing adequate investment resources to repair these wasteful systems is another critical element in solving the world’s water crisis. Dow Basic Plastics is committed to helping the water issues by producing polyethylene (PE) pipes which offer cost-effective solutions. PE offers improved life-cycle performance with many benefits including lower installation costs, reduced water leakage, corrosion resistance and reduced maintenance over the lifetime of a pipe infrastructure system. In water and wastewater applications, these advanced materials can provide longer overall life potential.
In addition to the importance of water filter technology, desalination and the development of stronger, longer-lasting pipes, water management in agriculture also plays a vital role in conserving water resources. With nearly 70 percent of the world’s freshwater use for agricultural irrigation, implementing best practices for improved water utilization in agriculture is critical. That’s why Dow AgroSciences is committed to the development of drought-tolerant crops, including corn and canola, to help farmers produce more while conserving the precious resource of water.
There is no doubt that innovation and new thinking can help preserve the precious resource of water. Leveraging the strength of the Human Element, Dow will continue to improve its world-class know-how and expertise in desalination, ion exchange, ultrafiltration, specific contaminant removal, water recycling and other technologies to assist in the development of cost-effective systems that can provide low-cost clean water.
To find out more about what Dow is doing to help overcome the world’s water crisis, visit these stories:
Dow: A Global Advocate for Clean, Drinkable Water
Recycle-Reuse Thinking: Dow’s Water Optimization Efforts
