Dow Products & Technology Help Sustain Fresh Water
Dow Liquid Separations Business helps to ensure the health of millions of people. Dow manufacturers both membrane and ion exchange products producing FILMTEC* membranes and DOWEX* ion exchange resins. Both of these technologies separate dissolved minerals and organics from solutions, producing water that meets the most stringent water purity standards today.
Plastic Pipes Transport & Preserve Clean Water
Plastic pipe provides access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Plastic pipe is one of the unique products that delivers a substantial advantage for the conveyance and conservation of water. There are two main types of plastic pipe used for large water systems- PVC pipe and HDPE pipe. Most of the vinyl monomer manufactured by Dow is used in PVC pipe. In addition, Dow manufactures polyethylene resins used in the pressure pipe market. Corroded, leaky pipes and breaks in non-plastic materials used in water conveyance will spill enough water in the United States alone to meet the drinking water needs of every man, woman and child in the world every day. Plastic pipe does not have issues with corrosion or biofilms that other materials do.
Dow Plastics' DOWLEX* polyethylene (PE) resin reached a new landmark in June, 2003 after it was revealed that an incredible 1,000,000 kilometers of pipes containing the resin had been produced. These pipes would wrap the earth an amazing 22 times if stretched end-to-end. Dow Plastics' DOWLEX PE resins have a 20-year proven track record for delivering outstanding performance and processability in hot and cold water pipe applications.
Disease Prevention
Considering that half of the world's diseases are transmitted by water, perhaps one of the most vital solutions that industry provides to the world is chlorine, which is made by many companies including Dow. Chlorine-based disinfectants are used by 98 percent of modern water systems to ensure drinking water remains safe from bacterial contamination. In fact, Life magazine called the chlorination of drinking water the "most significant public health advance of the millennium" because it virtually eliminated the incidence of deadly water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
Contribute To Cleaner Water In Africa
Last year people all over the world helped supply clean water by clicking on www.aquaplastics.org. As a result Euro 150,000 (about $200, 000.00) was donated by the European plastics industry to support WaterAid's vital work enabling some of the poorest people in Africa gain access to safe, clean water and sanitation.
From now until June 22, 2004, you can help WaterAid again and it won't cost you a thing. Every day you click on www.aquaplastics.org the European plastics industry will donate 10 Euro cents to WaterAid. The effort is not limited to people in Europe, anyone can participate.
Read More About It
For more information about Dow's position on water use and conservation see the Dow 2002 Public Report at www.dowpublicreport.com.
To read more on technology from Dow about water purification go to www.filmtec.com.
Dow is a leader in science and technology, providing innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $33 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 180 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Dow and its approximately 46,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.
Source: The Dow Chemical Company