Dow Water & Process Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Co., celebrated the opening of the University of Arizona’s Water and Energy Sustainable Technology (WEST) Center on Friday, Nov. 20.
Dow is a founding member and sponsor of the center, which will focus on bringing together industry, government and academia to address the nation’s growing water and energy needs through research and technology. The new $5.5 million facility will help enable researchers, public officials and industry leaders to work together in developing new technologies and more energy sustainable solutions to address water scarcity.
“We’re thrilled to support a center that shares our commitment to advancing technology and sustainability partnerships to help address the water-energy nexus and bring us closer to a circular economy,” said Tracy Young, water growth technologies R&D director for Dow Water & Process Solutions and WEST industrial advisory board member. “Powerful public-private partnerships like this one are key to advancing and commercializing energy efficient solutions for water treatment.”
Co-located with the Pima County Water Reclamation Facility (Agua Nueva) and adjacent to reclaimed water recharge basins and constructed wetlands, the WEST Center will develop, evaluate and demonstrate technologies that advance sustainable solutions for water and energy while also facilitating technology transfer between public utilities and the private sector. The center will educate and train technicians, utility personnel and students along with the community in the intricacies of water treatment solutions.
Dow’s involvement with the WEST Center aligns with its 2025 Sustainability Goals to work with industry leaders, non-profit organizations and governments to offer projects that facilitate the world’s transition to a circular economy and greater adoption of sustainable solutions for water reuse.
Source: Dow Water & Process Solutions
