STUART, FL, April 25, 2005 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) -- The first-ever Mobile Emergency Filtration System (MEFS) to be verified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a unit that's capable of producing up to 60,000 gallons of water per day, was introduced by Ecosphere Technologies, a subsidiary of UltraStrip Systems Inc. at a media event in New York City today. The unit was on display at Chelsea Piers at 20th Street & the Hudson River, where Ecosphere engineers demonstrated the system by converting water from the Hudson River into pure, clean, drinking water.
The MEFS offers a solution to the world's water problems not only in crisis situations, but with multiple applications:
* Emergency Response: In the case of a natural disaster
* Developing Regions: A clean source of drinking water to remote areas
* Backup Water Supply: Temporary emergency water for hospitals, military operations and prisons
"With the development of MEFS, we realized there was a huge untapped market to help protect the world's water supply and provide clean drinking water in emergency situations," said Dennis McGuire, founder of UltraStrip Systems and chief technology officer to Ecosphere. "The threat of water contamination here, and the lack of adequate water supplies in developing regions, made it clear that this product has applications worldwide."
The MEFS received EPA verification in March 2004. "The UltraStrip MEFS was the first ETV-verified system treating wastewater generated during decontamination of biological or chemical Homeland Security incidents. Three different challenge conditions were used in the testing, and the test data showed the MEFS removed the contaminants of concern to very low or non- detectable concentrations," said Thomas Stevens, P.E., Manager of Engineering and Research Services for NSF International.
Ecosphere (www.ecospheretech.com) donated a filtration system to Water Culture Network, a non- profit organization founded by global environmental leader Jean-Michel Cousteau. Ecosphere became a Founding Partner of Water Culture Network by its donation of a complete filtration system and technicians to support the unit on site in a crisis location.
Lack of adequate water supplies affects 2.4 billion people in poor or developing countries worldwide, and every 15 seconds a child under the age of five dies needlessly from a water-related illness. "Using our technologies in ways that can benefit people and the environment has always been an important part of our business strategy," said Ecosphere president and CEO Stephen Johnson.
Founded in 1998, UltraStrip Systems Inc. (www.ultrastrip.com) is a water engineering and industrial automation company specializing in water filtration and industrial coating removal. The company enters new markets with innovative and transformational technologies that protect the environment, while enhancing quality of life throughout the world. UltraStrip has established a lasting relationship with Jean-Michel Cousteau through donating 2% of its annual revenues to the Ocean Futures Society.
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