2014 Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium scheduled for May 7
The 2014 Pennsylvania Groundwater Symposium will take place May 7 at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in State College, Pa. The Symposium has been organized in celebration of National Drinking Water Week by Penn State Extension’s Master Well Owner Network, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Ground Water Association. The Symposium theme will be “Building Groundwater Knowledge Through Monitoring."
NSF International updates Beverage Quality Program
NSF International has appointed Valbona Malo as the new global business manager for the Beverage Quality Program and updated evaluation criteria for that program. The program provides testing and certification of packaged beverages, bottled water, packaged ice and flavored beverages. The evaluation criteria are now more risk-based and support GFSI standards, FSMA requirements and HACCP. Malo has extensive specialist experience in beverage quality, serves as Chairman of Education & Audit Committee of Watercoolers Europe, represents NSF for the European Federation of Bottled Water and is a member of Audit Committee of European Ice Packaging Association.
Pacific Ozone, Gusmer Enterprises form collaborative partnership
Pacific Ozone has announced a collaborative partnership with Gusmer Enterprises to bring water saving solutions to the beverage industry. Together, Gusmer and Pacific Ozone are addressing changing disinfection needs with Gusmer offering complete ozone product solutions from Pacific Ozone.
NGWA releases four online lessons for well owners
The National Ground Water Association has released four free online lessons for household water well owners at www.WellOwner.org, developed by NGWA with support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Lessons include: Arsenic in Well Water: What Is It and What Do You Do?; Bacteria in Well Water: What Is It and What Do You Do?; Nitrate in Well Water: What Is It and What Do You Do?; and Radon in Well Water: What Is It and What Do You Do?
Media-based water filters market growth expected
A recently published report by TechSci Research, “Global Media based Water Filters Market Forecast & Opportunities, 2019,” found that the media-based water filters market is rising predominantly on the back of growing desalinated and bottled water markets globally. The global market is likely to surpass $12 billion by the end of 2018, growing at a higher rate during the 2014-2019 period compared to the last five years. Uneven water distribution, low sewage collection and treatment rate, rising urbanization and industrialization are the key factors driving the demand for media-based water filters globally.
Safeway Water partners with Entek Environmental Technologies
President of Safeway Water LLC Neal DeLettre has announced that Safeway along with Entek Environmental Technologies will market their products through a cooperative called Safe Water Alliance. Safeway Water and Entek offer a broad line of water quality improvement products, including water softeners, whole house filters, iron filters, sulfur filters, no-salt systems, drinking water systems, ultraviolent sterilizers and components, which can only be sourced directly from the Safe Water Alliance.
NSF International launches HACCP training program
NSF International has launched a new Building Water Systems Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) training program for water systems professionals. The training will help safeguard against microbial, chemical and physical hazards associated with premise plumbing, cooking towers and other water systems in buildings. Training courses will be held in multiple cities across the U.S. for facility managers, water treatment, distribution and plumbing engineers and occupational safety professionals.
IBWA issues statement on proposed San Francisco bottled water ban
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) has issued a statement regarding legislation being considered by the San Francisco Land Use and Economic Development Committee, which would ban the sale or distribution of bottled water in plastic bottles of 21 fluid ounces or less on city and county property, including parks, concerts, large public events and mobile food trucks. "The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) opposes this bill and supports the right of San Franciscans to choose clean, safe, healthy, refreshing, reliable and zero-calorie bottled water when making their beverage decisions,” the statement added.
Water Quality Association makes changes to certification titles
The Water Quality Association (WQA) has announced changes to its professional certification scheme along with the unveiling of its new Modular Education Program (MEP). Beginning in March 2015, WQA will offer two advanced-level certifications — Master Water Specialist and Master Service Technicians — and four core titles — Certified Water Treatment Representative, Certified Water Specialist, Certified Installer and Certified Service Technician. The Certified Water Specialist (CWS) designation will cease to exist in its current form and certified professionals holding the titles of CWS-V and CWS-VI will be redesignated as Master Water Specialists, while professionals holding the titles of CWS-I, CWS-II, CWS-III and CWS-IV will be redesignated simply as Certified Water Specialists. Individuals currently holding the Certified Installer (CI) designation will retain that titled while those holding the Certified Sales Representative (CSR) title will be redesignated as Certified Water Treatment Representative (CWRs).
WHO unveils International Scheme to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies
The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled its International Scheme to Evaluate Household Water Treatment Technologies. The program is intended to aid populations in developing countries with limited capacity to subject manufacturers to rigorous, independent evaluations of product performance. Under this fee-based program, manufacturers and products certified under the International Scheme will be listed as such on the WHO website, no certification mark will be issued and the company will be prohibited from using the WHO name or logo in any manner.
DS Waters of America Inc. announces name change
DS Waters of America Inc. has changed its name to DS Services of America Inc. “Over the years, we’ve made investments to expand our portfolio of products and services,” said Tom Harrington, president and chief executive officer of DS Services. “In addition to expanding our position in the bottled water home and office delivery business, we have also created meaningful market positions in the coffee service and water filtration industries.” March 1 is the official launch date for the new name.
WQA announces two personnel changes
The Water Quality Association (WQA) has announced two personnel changes intended to expand the Association’s international presence and educational programming. H.S. (HeungSoon) Choi has been hired to oversee WQA’s operations in South Korea to facilitate relations between WQA member companies and the Korean Water Purifier Industry Cooperative (KOWPIC), perform factory inspections on behalf of WQA’s Gold Seal Product Certification Program and increase awareness of WQA membership, product and professional certification programs among South Korean companies. The Association has also promoted Dean Jarog, CWS-VI, to the position of education and professional certification trainer. The trainer position was created to increase WQA’s capacity to tailor its WQA educational materials to meet the organizational and business needs of member companies.
PEOPLE
- Clean water technology company HaloSource has announced the appointment of Jeanine Willis as the company’s new human resources director. Willis brings over 20 years of HR leadership to the company with broad experience gained from her time in the biotechnology, healthcare and service industries.
- Marlo Incorporated has announced the promotion of Steve LaMere to the position of president and chief operating officer, effective Jan. 1, 2014. LaMere began his employment at Marlo in 1998 as a project engineer and has progressed through the company becoming the director of sales in 2005.
