December 26, 2008 Getting the Treatment

Volume 11 | Issue 6

WaterGroup has build a solid reputation over something quite fluid: water, and the technologies and systems that go into its treatment.

Maintaining a competitive edge amidst change means an ongoing assessment of production techniques and product lines while developing new technologies in response to market opportunities. WaterGroup continues to push the envelope and seek new and better ways to provide the latest technologies to its customers while ensuring quality and cost-effectiveness are never compromised.
WaterGroup is a water treatment company and a major manufacturer/distributor in Canada and the U.S. servicing residential and commercial customers through plumbing and heating wholesale distribution. The company manufactures and sells a full line of water softeners, filters, reverse osmosis (RO), ultraviolet (UV) drinking water systems and pump products. The company also distributes a full range of additional water treatment products such as cartridge filters, distillation units, chemical feed pumps, chemicals and media.

As a basic manufacturer of water treatment equipment, WaterGroup specializes in the manufacture of rotationally molded brine tanks, filament wound pressure vessels and assembly of Fleck controls enabling the company to ensure production of the highest quality products at the lowest possible cost. The company’s head office is located in Regina, Saskatchewan with an additional distribution facility in Cambridge (Toronto), Ontario. It also maintains a head office in Fridley (Minneapolis), Minn. WaterGroup employs over 200 people across North America.

AN INDUSTRY IN DEMAND
According to a report, World Water Treatment Products from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a leading international business research company, world demand forecast for water treatment products, chemical and nonchemical, is projected to increase 6.4 percent per year to nearly $40 billion in 2011. Advances will be particularly strong in the developing world, with countries such as China and India registering growth more than double the global average. In more established markets, gains will be due to the continuing introduction of more sophisticated water treatment technologies, including wider use of higher-end membranes in desalination and other applications, specialty chemicals in industrial water treatment, and easier to use products for recreational water treatment.

Says the report: “Overall, demand for nonchemical water treatment equipment and supplies is projected to register faster growth than chemical products. Conventional filtration equipment will still account for a substantial share of the market. However, more advanced techniques, especially membrane separation, are expanding their presence in the water treatment market, not only in the most developed countries, but in developing regions as well, particularly in China, which has been quick to embrace membranes in industrial water treatment.

“Municipal water treatment will register above-average growth through the forecast period. In developing areas, this will result largely from efforts to expand access to improved water to previously unserved populations. Sharp increases in the overall level of manufacturing in the Asia/Pacific region will make it the fastest growing industrial water treatment market, although the United States will remain by far the largest single outlet for both municipal and industrial water treatment products.”

PRODUCTS TO ANSWER DEMAND
Given this projected market growth, WaterGroup’s product line is well placed with technologies that will bring more efficiencies to a variety of applications.

In the area of pump technology the company offers its Dynaflo® 4-inch submersible pumps for residential, commercial, farm and industrial applications. Every Dynaflo® submersible pump is factory tested to guarantee it meets the company’s standards of excellence. Built to work under most water conditions and supply demands, Dynaflo® ensures consistently reliable service with minimal maintenance.

Features of construction include:

• thermoplastic WGT models available in 5, 7, 10, 15 and 20 GPM;
• stainless steel WGS models available in 5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 50 and 85 GPM;
• 1-1/4-invh NPT discharge outlet, 5 through 20 GPM Series;
• impellers – reinforced polymer with stainless steel wear rings for smooth corrosion-free water passage;
• diffusers – Delrin glass filled composite, for extra strength;
• Franklin electric motor – super stainless steel, with built-in lightning arrestors; both economical 2-wire and or convenient 3-wire models are available;
• pump shell – stainless steel, houses impellers;
• motor coupling – stainless steel, connects motor to pump shaft;
• suction bowl – constructed of either corrosion resistant thermoplastic or stainless steel;
• cable guard – for superior protection of motor leads;
• discharge head – constructed of thermoplastic composite or stainless steel;
• check valve – internal anti-spin check valve with o-ring seal; builtin on sizes to 20 gpm, provides a positive seal at the discharge head.

In addition, WaterGroup also partners with Pedrollo to distribute shallow well jet pumps, the JSW cast iron series and the JCR stainless steel series.

A third pump product is the Stenner Classic Series metering pumps, which are self-priming, offering 3-point roller assembly that provides a positive 2-point seal on the pump tube at all times. This eliminates the need for anti-siphoning valves and diaphragms. The patented mechanical feed rate control (adjustable models) allows the pump’s output to be scaled from 5 percent to 100 percent with the simple turn of the dial. Consult output chart for specific settings.

REVERSE ENGINEERING
Water Group also offers an advantage in the area of reverse osmosis systems. In the home, reverse osmosis systems (sometimes referred to as RO), produce purified water used for drinking and cooking. Also called “point-of-use” systems, they are typically installed beneath the kitchen sink, and include a faucet for dispensing the purified water. The process basically involves a semipermeable membrane that will only allow relatively pure water to pass through it. On one side of this membrane, there is a high concentration of impurities (raw, unprocessed water). Pressure is applied on this unprocessed water to make it flow through the membrane, and out to the other (low pressure) side. Purified drinking water is collected on the low pressure side of the membrane. Impurities that were not able to pass through the reverse osmosis membrane are washed to drain. Purified water is either stored in a small reservoir tank, or dispensed directly to a faucet.

Among its leading products in this category is the Duro® 1240 Series III push button reverse osmosis system. The premier model is equipped with WaterGroup’s patented Smartap® push button monitor. At the touch of a button the user can be assured of receiving top quality water. The technology also alerts that it is time to change the membrane. This model also utilizes three dedicated sediment and carbon filters.

All models feature:

• high quality reverse osmosis membrane;
• choice of 25, 50 and 75 gallons per day;
• sediment pre-filtration;
• pre & post carbon block filtration;
• quick connect fittings;
• 3/8-inch tubing from RO to tank and faucet for higher flow;
• color coded tubing for ease of installation;
• chrome faucet;

“With the quality of our drinking water increasingly coming under question, people are now looking for alternative sources of quality water,” WaterGroup explains on its Web site. “Reverse osmosis drinking water systems provide the most convenient and economical solution. Neatly stored under the counter, the reverse osmosis drinking water system provides you with clean and delicious water right from its own dedicated tap.”

With these and other advanced products, it’s no secret why WaterGroup is answering demands in the industry and will continue to be at the forefront as water treatment becomes a more dominant issue in the future.

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