Pentair Commits to Sustainable Water Recycling Exploration, Grants Money to the WateReuse Research Foundation

MINNEAPOLIS, July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pentair, Inc. (NYSE: PNR), a leader in sustainable water solutions, and its Foundation announced today a $175,000 grant to the WateReuse Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization that conducts and promotes applied research on the reclamation, recycling, reuse and desalination of water. The grant reflects Pentair's commitment to developing reusable water solutions, and funds two research projects that promote on-site water recycling systems and evaluate graywater treatments for more widespread adoption.  

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"Pentair and our Foundation are committed to offering the communities in which we operate the knowledge and vehicles to reuse water," said Susan Carter, manager, Pentair Foundation. "The WateReuse Research Foundation has demonstrated an expertise in water reuse and our communities' future water needs, and we're excited to collaborate with them. Providing sustainable solutions to meet the world's growing need for clean, safe water is a high priority for Pentair."  

The first project, a $125,000 grant, will provide guidance for implementing water reuse in new buildings and developments to achieve sustainability goals. The project's end result, a first-of-its-kind "guidance document," will arm developers and architects with effective methods to implement satellite water recycling systems for new and mixed-use developments. Satellite treatment systems, which are onsite, stand-alone technologies, harvest and treat rainwater and graywater – including wash water from sinks, showers and washing machines – and present one of the strongest growth opportunities for sustainable recycled water applications. Reusing graywater can reduce the demand for municipally treated water by 30 to 60 percent. The findings will be shared with the U.S. Green Building Council and are applicable to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits.  

Pentair has also granted $50,000 to the WateReuse Research Foundation to examine graywater treatment technologies in the United States. After evaluating raw and post graywater treatment, the WateReuse Research Foundation anticipates that its research will help determine treatment reliability and success – and help assess the potential benefits of expanded treatment and use.

Both projects are under way and are expected to be completed at the end of 2010, with results available in 2011.  

Pentair is a committed leader in water reuse and recently donated a Rainwater Recycle System to the new Minnesota Twins Major League Baseball stadium.  

About The Pentair Foundation

Established in 1998, The Pentair Foundation has committed more than $24 million to strengthen and support communities in which Pentair operates, with a focus on education, water quality and community giving. Through the Foundation, Pentair directs two percent of its pre-tax earnings to charitable organizations annually. The Foundation's major funding project is a multi-year, $4.7 million research program called Project Safewater. Through its charitable partner Water Missions International, Pentair's Project Safewater initiative aims to demonstrate that people in developing countries can be provided access to sustainable sources of safe drinking water and adequate sanitation facilities quickly and cost effectively.

About Pentair, Inc.

Pentair (www.pentair.com) is a global diversified industrial company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its Water Group is a global leader in providing innovative products and systems used worldwide in the movement, treatment, storage and enjoyment of water. Pentair's Technical Products Group is a leader in the global enclosures and thermal management markets, designing and manufacturing thermal management products and standard, modified, and custom enclosures that protect sensitive electronics and the people that use them. With 2009 revenues of $2.7 billion, Pentair employs approximately 13,000 people worldwide.

About the WateReuse Research Foundation

The mission of the WateReuse Research Foundation is to conduct and promote applied research on the reclamation, recycling, reuse, and desalination of water. The Research Foundation is an educational, nonprofit public benefit 501(c)(3) corporation that conducts applied research on behalf of the water and wastewater community for the purpose of advancing the science of water reuse, recycling, reclamation, and desalination. The Foundation's research supports communities across the United States and abroad in their efforts to create new sources of high quality water while protecting public health and the environment.

SOURCE Pentair, Inc.