Va. approves TerraGroup system for treating FORSCOM logistics training site wastewater

ALLENTOWN, PA, March 27, 2006 -- TerraGroup Corp., designer and manufacturer of TECWAR^® Tactical Water Purification Systems, announced Friday it received approval for its tactical wastewater treatment system from the state of Virginia to treat wastewater generated by military water purification training operations at Ft. Story, VA.

When most people are thirsty, they go to their sink or reach for a bottle to quench their thirst. When the U.S. military gets thirsty, it goes to the nearest river, lake, or ocean for a drink. On the battlefield, military operations need supplies and there is nothing more important than keeping soldiers supplied with purified water. The military accomplishes this by using specially designed and constructed mobile Reverse Osmosis Water Purification Units (ROWPU). These "mobile water purifiers" can go almost anywhere and produce potable water from almost any source.

Soldiers who operate and maintain the ROWPUs, and who distribute water to the soldiers in the field, train initially at Ft. Lee, VA, and receive enhanced military occupational skills training at the FORSCOM Logistics Training Cluster (FLTC) Saltwater Annex at Ft. Story, VA. FORSCOM is the U.S. Army Forces Command. An additional "tactical scenario" training site is also planned for Ft. Pickett, VA.

Because the ROWPU must get close to the source water, the training is performed in environmentally sensitive areas: ocean beach, lake, river, or stream side. Through the course of learning ROWPU operation and maintenance procedures, wastewater is generated through backwashing multi-media filters and cleaning of the reverse osmosis membrane elements. Product water (raw water that has been purified) must also be treated before discharging because of high levels of chlorine that is added to prevent recontamination by various types of microorganisms.

These "tactical wastewaters" would normally have to be hauled out by tanker truck to a state approved location for discharge, usually to a wastewater treatment plant. This is not a cost effective or asset efficient solution. By utilizing the Multi-Functional Modular Filtration System (MMFFS™) to treat the wastewater on site, a substantial cost savings is realized and there is no need to utilize other assets for backhauling the wastewater.

With this important development, soldiers can now train on ROWPU operations and maintenance procedures while maintaining a high state of readiness and preparedness and preserving high levels of environmental stewardship with no adverse environmental impact.

The MMFFS is a tactical water treatment and purification system designed by TerraGroup
Corporation. The system was designed to fit in a standard M105 US Army trailer and is towable by 2.5 or 5 ton truck. It's totally self-contained, needing only diesel fuel or gasoline, depending on the model.

It can be operational in 30 minutes and is operated and maintained by one person with no special tools and minimal instruction. The MMFFS can be configured for different flow rates and flow patterns from 50 gallons per minute (gpm) to 150 gpm. The capabilities of the system include treating ROWPU wastewater streams, pre-treating NBC contaminated water to protect downstream components and equipment; decontamination runoff resulting from mass casualty incidents, highly chlorinated water, grey water from showers and laundry systems and water that has been contaminated with POL (petroleum-oils-lubricants). Major components of the system can be recycled and be reconstituted and returned to service with little or no waste. It's protected by three U.S. patents and trademarks.

TerraGroup Corp. (www.tacticalwater.com) has focused entirely on the design, engineering and manufacturing of patented water purification systems including water storage and distribution products that specifically address military field applications, potable water for disasters, emergency water supply, and NBC decontamination. All of the TECWAR systems are highly mobile, self-contained, modular, and scalable. They are designed for rapid response, remote locations, and expeditionary teams. With headquarters in Allentown, PA, the company continues its work in improving and developing water purification products for military field applications, environmental defense, homeland security and disaster relief.

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