EPA has awarded $800,000 to eight small businesses to develop cost effective methods for removing arsenic from drinking water to meet the agency's new arsenic standard of 10 parts per billion.
The contracts will particularly benefit smaller systems serving less than 10,000 people that have limited funds for contaminant removal. More than 4,000 systems need to install new technologies by January of 2006 to comply with the standard.
ADA Technologies Inc. of Littleton, Colo., will combine an arsenic adsorbent with an arsenic monitoring sensor and alarm for in-home use.
Argonide Corp. in Sanford, Fla., will use molecular or nano-technology to create a filter using a new form of activated aluminum.
Daniel B. Stephens & Associates Inc. of Albuquerque, N.M., will apply current techniques for removing iron and manganese from water to underground arsenic removal.
Microporous Oxides Science and Technology of Oregon, Wis., will develop an arsenic removal process that uses a thin, light-activated film material.
HydroPure Technologies of Powell, Ohio, HydroTech Engineering of Rapid City, S.D., Materials Modification Inc. of Fairfax, Va., and VEETech in Aiken, S.C., will all develop new adsorbent materials to remove arsenic from drinking water.
The contracts were awarded through EPA's Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program for commercial ventures that protect the environment, increase productivity and economic growth, and improve the international competitiveness of the U.S. technology industry.
Source: EPA
