On World Water Day we are all invited to reflect on the essential role that water plays in our lives and the importance of ensuring adequate supplies of this resource.

Today, over 1.4 billion people do not have access to a clean safe water source, and by 2025, water scarcity is expected to affect over three billion people. Experts also predict that during that period, growth in our industrial activity, agricultural production, and residential areas will lead to a 40 percent increase in our overall water use.

Jeff Garwood, President and CEO of GE Water & Process Technologies shares his thoughts about how GE and its advanced water treatment technologies are playing a key role protecting our water supplies and ensuring the availability of adequate water supplies.

We invite you to click on the links throughout the text below to learn more about specific locations where GE's solutions are making a difference.

1. What is GE doing to address the world's growing water scarcity challenges?

GE offers the world's broadest portfolio of water and process solutions, which uniquely positions us to address the world’s toughest water challenges — regardless of the location, problem or size. How are we doing this? We are approaching the problem from every angle imaginable. From large scale projects, like the Hamma Desalination Facility in Algeria, which produces water for two million people daily in Algiers , to our solar powered Homespring ultrafiltration units, which bring safe, reliable water to 500 students living in an orphanage in rural India. Our portfolio, our scale and financing capabilities are helping rural, urban, industrial, municipal and agricultural customers address their water needs with large-, medium- and small-scale solutions.

Our portfolio of chemicals, membranes, equipment and servicing is also helping to conserve and protect our world’s water sources. For example, in North America, our ecomagination-certified ZeeWeed Membrane Bioreactor (MBR) wastewater system is helping Aqua Engineers and the United States (U.S.) Army conserve up to one billion gallons of water annually. In Kuwait, working with Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al-Kharafi & Sons, our technology is helping to reclam up to 100 million gallons per day (MGD) of municipal wastewater from Kuwait City.  The reclaimed water, which exceeds the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for potable water, is used for agricultural, industrial, residential and commercial secondary water use.

In fact in 2007, our ecomagination portfolio conserved over five billion gallons (18.9 billion liters) of water, reduced solid waste production by 11 million tons (10 tonnes), lowered air emissions by 10 million tons (nine tones) and saved our customers over U.S. $25million in operating costs. And in 2008, we hope to double our ecomagination product offerings and reach.

This is just a small sampling of what we do everyday.  But the point is, we see an enormous opportunity here and we are optimistic about our ability to help bring lasting and affordable solutions to the places in need.

2. What is GE Water & Process Technologies doing to broaden awareness about the world's water issues?

We are working closely with governments, industries and NGOs to help broaden awareness about our water challenges.  In 2007, we undertook a number of educational water awareness initiatives.  In Shanghai, the business brought together senior Chinese government officials and water policy experts to discuss best practices and solutions designed to help China meet its growing water demands.  We launched the World Water Tour, a global seminar series that educated nearly 1,000 technical users on ways to reduce water consumption while meeting business goals, shrinking environmental footprints and increasing operational productivity.

Working with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce in the USA, we hosted the Georgia Water Solutions Forum, a thought-leadership conference aimed at helping attendees from government, municipal, industrial and technology sectors explore sustainable water strategies to cope with Georgia’s unprecedented drought. And in 2008, we have educational events planned in Asia, the Middle East, North America and Latin America.  

3. What technologies are available to help maximize water use?

We have the broadest portfolio of advanced water treatment solutions, capable of taking virtually any water source—even those that were once considered too costly or too difficult to use—and treating it to any standard for use.

Our advanced water chemistries for boiler, cooling tower, and process treatment are among the best in the world. Equipment, such as electrodialysis reversal , and thermal evaporators are making a significant difference in helping our clients reduce water use in their utilities and protect the environment from harmful pollutants by recycling water or even achieving zero liquid discharge. The combination of our membrane, chemical and physical purification is also extracting hidden value from process and waste streams — generating savings while helping the environment.

For example, at a Unilever manufacturing plant in Canada, we installed GE reverse osmosis technology that enabled the plant to purify and recycle water more effectively. The system saves Unilever more than $300,000 annually by improving operational production and simultaneously decreasing water, chemical and energy consumption.

Our researchers and product developers are also looking at innovative ways to turn what was once considered waste, into a valuable product. For example, using GE's membrane bioreactor technology communities and industries are turning wastewater into high quality effluent that can be reused for irrigation, manufacturing processes, or to replenish our aquifers and lakes.

With the addition of a Jenbacher gas turbine, we can create even more environmental benefits by converting the methane gas produced from the breakdown of organic nutrients into energy that can power a plant, or be sold to the local grid. This is truly exciting, when you think about the possibility of building affordable, energy-neutral facilities in any region of the world.

We're continuously looking ahead to identify the next great water challenge and the technology breakthrough that's going to help us all cope. Our investment in two new research centers in China and Singapore positions GE to help this rapidly growing region of the world deal with its water and wastewater challenges, and also to develop best practices that can help all nations enjoy economic growth that is balanced with environmental needs.

4. What is GE delivering water solutions to growing regions of the world?

We are working closely with key stakeholders and employing a variety of approaches to engage in public policy and discussions about technological advancements and accessibility issues. We believe, as a stakeholder , that industry has a unique and important role to play here. We also believe the first step is to get a seat at the table, so that's what we are doing.

We are also working hard to expand our local manufacturing, distribution and support capabilities in the emerging markets. In 2008, we plan to open several new manufacturing facilities on several continents. This will bring more affordable water solutions to growing regions of the world. In fact, a good example is our Wuxi facility in China, where we recently invested U.S. $9 million to expand this advanced water and process manufacturing facility. Our investment in the Wuxi Manufacturing Facility will bring advanced solutions that will help China meet its growing water, process and infrastructure needs. As China’s water demands continue to grow, our investment will help China implement sustainable solutions that will benefit its industries, businesses and the environment.

Partnerships are another way we are expanding our reach.  For example, we recently formed a joint venture with Eureka Forbes to bring safe, reliable and affordable water solutions to the Indian residential market. Our proprietary membrane technology, combined with Eureka Forbes’ reach and the joint local manufacturing facility, will give consumers rapid access to the best water treatment solutions in India.

In the Middle East, we are partnering with Saudi Arabia-based Al Tamimi Group to bring a fleet of GE Mobile Water Treatment Systems to Saudi Arabia. The mobile fleet, which includes seawater and brackish water reverse osmosis (RO) systems, ultrafiltration (UF), multi-media pretreatment, and clean-in-place (CIP) systems, will supply the Saudi Arabia marketplace with on-site, drought-proof supplies of water, water reuse, wastewater management and emergency water response capabilities.

And in Kochi, India, we teamed up with GE Energy to combine our Homespring water filtration unit with solar panels to bring clean water to the Home of Hope, an orphanage with some 80 girls. Previously, the water was not safe for the children to drink.

Partnerships are something that we will continue pursuing as we broaden our reach and deliver water solutions to growing areas, like China, India and the Middle East.

5. What aspect of GE are you most proud of on World Water Day?

Although every water project is unique in its own way, it's our people that provide the common element to help bring a project to life and ultimately determine its success. I am always most proud of the energy, ingenuity, and determination our people show when they take on the water challenges that our world is facing.

I’m also proud of our ability to deliver a range of solutions that meet virtually any need imaginable—from large-scale projects like Hamma and Sulaibiya to Kumasi’s Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Kintampo District Hospital in Ghana . All four projects had specific needs that our portfolio was able to meet and we delivered on each and every one of them. Algiers needed water for two million people. The hospitals in Ghana needed water crucial for providing lifesaving healthcare. Our solutions helped to improve on both of those infrastructure challenges.