New Nalco Technology Allows Improved Production of Key Raw Material

NAPERVILLE, Ill., Nov. 2, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nalco (NYSE:NLC), providing
essential expertise for water, energy and air, announced today that it will
begin pilot plant production of quaternized dimethylaminoethyl acrylate for use
in its industrial water treatment programs. The unit at the company's Clearing
Plant in Bedford Park, Ill. will employ a patent-pending Nalco process to
manufacture this material using state-of-the-art technology to produce a
higher-quality product with a smaller manufacturing footprint.

"There are relatively few global suppliers of this critical component used in
many of our programs for customers in papermaking, food and beverage and
wastewater treatment. We felt it was of strategic importance to back integrate
our production capabilities to insure we maintain leadership in the ability to
deliver value in these critical water technology markets," said Nalco Chairman
and CEO Erik Fyrwald. "Our new process is highly scalable with a relatively
modest capital expense."

"Similar to our ongoing quest to help our customers save water and energy and
reduce air pollution, we are also constantly improving our own production
capabilities through innovation," said Dr. Manian Ramesh, Nalco's Chief
Technology Officer. "This new, proprietary process reflects our commitment to
our core water treatment business, to our continual efforts to improve our
operations and to our strong open innovation practices."

About Nalco

Nalco is the world's leading water treatment and process improvement company,
delivering significant environmental, social and economic performance benefits
to our customers. We help our customers reduce energy, water and other natural
resource consumption, enhance air quality, minimize environmental releases and
improve productivity and end products while boosting the bottom line. Together
our comprehensive solutions contribute to the sustainable development of
customer operations. Nalco is a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability World
Index. More than 11,500 Nalco employees operate in 130 countries supported by a
comprehensive network of manufacturing facilities, sales offices and research
centers to serve a broad range of end markets. In 2008, Nalco achieved sales of
more than $4.2 billion. For more information visit www.nalco.com.

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This news release includes forward-looking statements, reflecting current
analysis and expectations, based on what are believed to be reasonable
assumptions. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results to differ
materially from those projected, stated or implied, depending on many factors,
including, without limitation: ability to generate cash, ability to raise
capital, ability to refinance, the result of the pursuit of strategic
alternatives, ability to execute work process redesign and reduce costs, ability
to execute price increases, business climate, business performance, economic and
competitive uncertainties, higher manufacturing costs, reduced level of customer
orders, changes in strategies, risks in developing new products and
technologies, environmental and safety regulations and clean-up costs, foreign
exchange rates, the impact of changes in the regulation or value of pension fund
assets and liabilities, changes in generally accepted accounting principles,
adverse legal and regulatory developments, including increases in the number or
financial exposures of claims, lawsuits, settlements or judgments, or the
inability to eliminate or reduce such financial exposures by collecting
indemnity payments from insurers, the impact of increased accruals and reserves
for such exposures, weather-related factors, and adverse changes in economic and
political climates around the world, including terrorism and international
hostilities, and other risk factors identified by the Company. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance that the Company will meet future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. This
paragraph is included to provide safe harbor for forward-looking statements,
which are not generally required to be publicly revised as circumstances change,
and which the Company does not intend to update.

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CONTACT: Nalco
Media Contact:
Charlie Pajor
630 305 1556
cpajor@nalco.com
Investor Contact:
Mike Bushman
630 305 1025
mbushman@nalco.com