May 16, 2001—USFilter announced today that it has donated the use of two Memcor® microfiltration systems for water purification to the city of North Battleford, Saskatchewan, which is combating contamination of its water supply from Cryptosporidium.
"We send best wishes for a speedy recovery to those who remain ill," said Andy Seidel, president and chief operating officer of USFilter and Vivendi Water North America.
The microfiltration systems, which arrived in North Battleford at midnight on May 12, were installed by tapping into the current water distribution system at Battleford's Civic Centre and Fire Hall. USFilter staff, local contractors and city personnel worked through the night to ensure the systems were operational by 3 p.m. the next afternoon, providing purified drinking water to residents of Battleford.
The systems work by filtering the water through polymeric membranes with microscopic pores, which trap and remove Cryptosporidium oocysts, Giardia cysts and other pathogens.
North Battleford's 14,000 residents have been boiling their tap water since April 25, when a boil water advisory was issued by the city.
According to news service reports from May 14, as many as 61 residents in the North Battleford region have been diagnosed with Cryptosporidium infection and thousands have suffered nausea, vomiting and stomach cramps.
USFilter's representative Mequipco in Winnipeg, Manitoba and engineering firm, MR2 MCDONALD & Associates of Regina, Saskatchewan were instrumental in the mobilization of the systems to North Battleford, Saskatchewan.
USFilter is a Vivendi Water company, the leading global provider of commercial, industrial, municipal and residential water and wastewater treatment systems, products and services, with operations in more than 100 countries. Together, Vivendi Water, Onyx (solid waste and industrial services), Dalkia (energy management), and Connex (transportation and logistics) comprise Vivendi Environnement, the largest environmental services company in the world with annual revenues of more than $23 billion. USFilter invites you to visit its Web site at http://www.usfilter.com.
