MINNEAPOLIS, MN, March 23, 2010 -- As nations around the globe celebrated World Water Day, recognizing the importance of water quality and quantity, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) puts water solutions and technologies in place to help. Recently, low-energy DOW FILMTEC™ reverse osmosis membranes from Dow Water & Process Solutions have helped Charlotte County Utilities implement a more sustainable water solution at the Burnt Store Water Treatment Plant and Burnt Store Water Reclamation Facility in Punta Gorda, Fla.
Through a recent expansion at Burnt Store, the utility was able to increase permitted water capacity from 1.13 million gallons per day (MGD) to 3.6 MGD, providing an additional 2.5 MGD of potable water capacity to better meet the needs of the area's current and future customers.
One of the first reverse osmosis plants built in Florida in 1978, Burnt Store is a stand-alone facility drawing water sources from seven groundwater wells. The well water supply comes from two ground water aquifers, the Hawthorne and Floridian, which are both brackish water supplies. While brackish water usually does not meet quality standards for drinking water, the use of Dow's reverse osmosis technology turns it into clean, safe drinking water for the residents.
The Burnt Store Water Treatment Plant currently uses five reverse osmosis trains, which can produce a total of 3.25 million gallons of water each day. For each gallon of water sent through the reverse osmosis system, 80 percent becomes usable water. This treated, or finished water, is then distributed to South County customers.
The expansion project began in September 2009, and was part of a two-phase capital improvement program constructed by Wharton Smith Inc., and designed by Malcolm Pirnie Independent Environmental Engineers, Scientists and Consultants. Modifications completed in the expansion include the addition of new water storage tanks capable of holding 500,000 gallons for reliability and fire flows. The upgraded reverse osmosis trains, purchased through AEREX Industries, will provide improved water quality to meet both current and future water demands for the Burnt Store service area for years to come.
"All of the parties worked well together to provide a cost-effective solution to increase the water treatment capacity for the area," said Ben Mohlenhoff, applications manager, AEREX Industries.
Added Harold Fravel, North American municipal industry manager for Dow Water & Process Solutions, "We are pleased to provide the residents of Charlotte and Lee counties with a more sustainable solution that meets the area's growing demand for water supplies. This project is a great example of working alongside our partners -- AEREX, Wharton Smith and Malcolm Pirnie -- to get the system up and running successfully."
About Dow Water & Process Solutions
Dow Water & Process Solutions has a 50 year legacy of providing innovative water and process solutions to both communities and industries alike. A differentiated business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Water & Process Solutions offers a broad portfolio of ion exchange resins, reverse osmosis membranes, ultrafiltration membranes and electrodeionization products, with strong positions in a number of major application areas, including industrial and municipal water, industrial processes, pharmaceuticals, power, residential water and waste and water reuse. More information about Dow Water & Process Solutions can be found at www.dowwaterandprocess.com.
About Dow
Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.
###
