Innovation Pipeline

An old English proverb says that “foul water will quench fire.” But what if you’re thirsty? Much of the world is now searching for innovative ways to clean dirty water so it’s drinkable.

There is some promising innovation in the area. Carbon nanotubes can improve water filtration. Other next-generation materials may make for more efficient membranes. Another area where improvements can be made is water management, since the bulk of water is used by agriculture–an estimated 80 percent.

A host of new startups and spinoffs are building innovative new technologies to help address the problems of a parched world. One is four-year-old Sunnyvale, Calif., startup Sylvan Sources. Its $3,500 water-purification system for households (roughly the size of a trash compactor) can remove contaminants like arsenic, barium, lead and copper without membranes, filters or chemicals.

Sylvan’s water appliance uses a combination of technologies, including degassing, distillation and demisting. Competitors in the market including EcoWater Systems, Culligan and RainSoft.

The company is currently raising a $12 million second round of venture funding, which adds significantly to the $3.5 million it’s raised since founding.

Frost & Sullivan estimates the global market for residential water treatment in new homes and renovations will reach $42 billion by 2011, which is $27 billion more than the market in 2005. Here in the U.S., the figure is expected to reach $2.3 billion by 2011, up from $1. 5 billion in 2005. –Lee Bruno