Fort Washington, Pa., April 4, 2002 - Severn Trent Services and Bayer AG announced an agreement between the two companies to distribute a proprietary media that removes arsenic from drinking water.
This long-term agreement provides Severn Trent with global distribution rights for Bayer's Bayoxide" E33 media. Developed and produced by Bayer, the granular ferric oxide (GFO) media efficiently adsorbs tirvalent arsenite (As III) and pentavalent arsenate (As V) from water sources and can be used in a range of treatment applications from large-scale municipal facilities to rural well sites to in-the-home, point-of-use systems.
Variations of the media, which will also adsorb other contaminants including antimony, chromate, lead, selenium and vanadium, are under development.
"Conquering global health issues such as arsenic in our drinking water requires the focus, resources and global reach of companies who can provide viable solutions," said Dr. Hu Fleming, vice president of Water Purification Solutions for Severn Trent Services. "We are extremely pleased to be working in collaboration with Bayer to provide a new and efficient arsenic removal technology that could improve and extend the lives of millions," he said.
Excessively high levels of arsenic concentrations are found in the groundwater of many countries. It is estimated that over 100 million people worldwide, approximately 13 million in the United States according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, drink water contaminated with arsenic. Medical studies have shown that long-term contamination can lead to serious health problems, including hyperkeratosis and carcinoma.
As a result of these studies, the World Health Organization recommended in 1992 a threshold limit for arsenic in drinking water of 10 parts per billion (ppb). A European Union (EU) Directive introduced in 1998 establishes this threshold across the whole of the EU and will be compulsory in England beginning next year. The U.S. has also recently committed to achieving this threshold by 2006.
In anticipation of these regulatory changes, Severn Trent initiated a research and development program in 1994 to identify efficient and economical arsenic removal processes. Severn Trent Water (STW), the largest independent Water Company in the United Kingdom, began working with Bayer and subsequently developed the patented SORB 33 arsenic removal process to work specifically with the Bayoxide E33 media.
STW initially built a pilot-scale SORB 33 system at their plant in Burton Joyce in 1996. Following extensive field and laboratory testing, the first full-scale commercial unit was installed at that site in September 2001. A second plant was commissioned at Chaddesley Corbett in November 2001.
STW is currently setting up 14 additional SORB 33 systems in the UK. At the same time, Severn Trent Services has brought the Sorb 33 technology to the U.S. where there are six pilot programs currently underway.
Under the agreement with Bayer, Severn Trent will develop arsenic removal systems utilizing Bayoxide" E33 and market the technologies around the world. The companies will also continue co-operation in the testing of new synthetic iron oxides for the purification of other types of drinking water sources.
About Severn Trent Services
Severn Trent Services (www.severntrentservices.com), based in Fort Washington, Pa., is a supplier of water and wastewater treatment solutions. The company's broad range of products and services includes disinfection and filtration technologies, pipeline analysis, rehabilitation and repair services, contract operating services, and state-of-the-art residential metering products.
Its Analytical Services Division, which includes Severn Trent Laboratories (STL), is the world's provider of environmental testing services. Severn Trent Services generates annual sales of $500 million with 4,500 employees. The company is part of Severn Trent Plc. (London: SVT.L), Birmingham, England, an international environmental services leader. Severn Trent is a FTSE 100 company.
About Bayer AG
Bayer AG (www.bayer.com) of Leverkusen, Germany is an international, research-based group active in Health Care, Agriculture, Polymers and Chemicals. Its groups number some 350 individual companies, represented in virtually every country in the world. With each and every product, Bayer plays its part in improving quality of life, all over the world.
