Pentair's Everpure(R) Brand Provides Solutions to Contaminated School Drinking
Water Issues
CHICAGO, Nov. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, an Associated Press investigation
found significant levels of contaminants in drinking water at public and
private schools across the country. As a result, Pentair, a global leader in
water filtration solutions, through its Everpure® brand, is announcing its
commitment to providing solutions for improving the quality of drinking water
in schools nationwide.
"Water safety in schools, in addition to public facilities, is a very
important issue as some water contamination can cause health problems to both
children and adults," says Tony Fischer, global product portfolio manager for
Everpure. "As a leading water filtration company, we are dedicated to
educating facility managers on the technologies available to help eliminate
such problems."
According to the study, thousands of schools were found to be in violation of
the Safe Drinking Water Act having high levels of pollutants such as bacteria,
viruses, lead, mercury, arsenic, nitrates and much more. While some experts
feel that the responsibility lies within government agencies, the reality is
government agencies can only impose testing and reporting responsibilities.
The good news is there are many solutions that schools can implement locally
to eliminate these toxins without a heavy cost. Pentair and Everpure have been
delivering clean, clear and consistent water to businesses for more than 75
years and offer a wide array of products to help solve many of the common
water contamination issues facing the U.S.
Understanding which contaminants are present and what technologies are
available to resolve these issues is the first step in finding a solution.
In many situations, a point of use filtration system can be attached to a
water fountain or sink faucet to produce safe, clean water. In others, a
larger point of entry system can treat the entire facility. Such systems are
always more cost effective than the purchase of bottled water. Schools and
school systems can take comfort in providing safe water to the children while
saving significant costs to the school and the students.
Bacteria and Viruses
Numerous U.S. schools were found to be beyond the legal limit for bacteria and
viruses in drinking water and while many of these bacteria can often be
harmless, some can cause major health issues. The presence of a variety of
bacteria and viruses in drinking water is likely caused by sewage interference
in the water or a malfunction in the treatment system. Many water filtration
systems claim they are able to reduce some of these harmful contaminants but
to truly eliminate the problem, water filtration products must use certified
ultrafiltration technology which can only be found in a limited array of
products. When microbiological contamination exists within a facility's water
distribution system, a point of use purifier utilizing ultrafiltration can
produce pure, safe water that is superior to bottled or municipal water. A
school system can turn an alarming problem into a point of pride in their
community.
Lead, Mercury and Other Heavy Metals
Some of the main contaminants uncovered by the investigation were high levels
of lead, copper, mercury and other heavy metals. These can cause varying
health problems in both adults and children even from short-term exposure.
According to the CDC, it is estimated that lead in drinking water contributes
between 10 percent and 20 percent of total lead exposure in young children.
More often than not when heavy metals are found in drinking water, it is due
to corroded pipes and fixtures in all parts of the water delivery system,
typically in older buildings. In order to effectively eliminate heavy metals
found in drinking water, facilities must look for water filtration products
that contain specially treated filters with adsorbent media specially
developed for lead reduction. When contamination originates in the plumbing
of older buildings, the cost to refurbish the building or replace the plumbing
could be overwhelming for a school system. A lead filter could be installed
at every drinking water outlet in a building for a relatively modest cost and
would be very effective.
Nitrates, Pesticides and Herbicides
One in five schools with their own water system were found to have harmful
pollutants such as nitrates, pesticides and herbicides in their drinking
water. These contaminants are likely caused by residue in local farming areas
surrounding the school's water source and can be harmful especially in
infants. In order to effectively rid water of nitrates, water filtration
systems employing reverse osmosis (RO) technology can quickly and efficiently
remove these harmful substances. When dealing with herbicides and pesticides,
high-end technology carbon filters are needed to reduce excess levels in order
to maintain water safety.
More information regarding the technologies mentioned above is available on
the company's Web site (www.everpure.com).
About Everpure
Everpure, a leading foodservice industry supplier, has been manufacturing
commercial water treatment products, solutions and services worldwide since
1933. Everpure is also a trusted provider of water treatment products to the
vending, consumer, marine and aviation markets. Industry leaders around the
world rely on Everpure for quality water treatment. In 2004, the company
became part of the Water Technologies Group of Pentair, Inc. (NYSE: PNR). For
more information on Everpure, visit the company's Web site at
www.Everpure.com.
About Pentair, Inc.
Pentair (www.pentair.com) is a diversified operating company headquartered in
Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its Water Group is a global leader in providing
innovative products and systems used worldwide in the movement, treatment,
storage and enjoyment of water. Pentair's Technical Products Group is a leader
in the global enclosures and thermal management markets, designing and
manufacturing thermal management products and standard, modified, and custom
enclosures that house and protect sensitive electronics and electrical
components. With 2008 revenues of $3.35 billion, Pentair employs approximately
13,100 people worldwide.
SOURCE Everpure
Kori Green, +1-312-329-3913, greenk@ruderfinn.com, or Nissy Atassi,
+1-312-329-3979, atassin@ruderfinn.com, both for Everpure
