The centre will carry out application development and component testing and will help develop the commercialisation of Dow’s water treatment technologies, which help to enable the production of clean drinking water from various water sources, including seawater. The centre is expected to open in 2010 and employ 25 expert researchers.
The centre’s proximity to the Mediterranean will provide access to seawater, brackish water, municipal wastewater, and treated river water sources. By replicating real world operating conditions in large scale pilot plants, Dow Water Solutions plans to improve understanding of how to achieve the best performance and lowest operational costs for treating water.
The new centre reflects Dow’s 2015 Sustainability Goals, which pledge the company’s commitment to achieving remarkable developments to help solve world challenges such as sustainable water supplies.
“The provision of clean water is one of the most pressing challenges facing the global community in the 21st century,” said Ian Barbour, general manager, Dow Water Solutions. “This new centre represents an important step forward in our strategy to provide innovative, technology-based solutions to help address this issue.”
“This project is a breakthrough investment in water technology for Spain and it is highly recognized by authorities and perceived as strategic for the country. With it, Tarragona will serve as a research centre for all Dow’s markets, becoming a centre of reference for water purification worldwide”, said Anton Valero, chairman and general country manager of Dow Chemical Ibérica.