4.22.2008 - 11:59pm ET

(CSRwire) EDINA, MN - April 22, 2008 - On April 21 and 22, water industry leaders, investors, environmentalists and engineers will gather in London to discuss sustainable solutions to the global water crisis at the Water, Finance and Sustainability conference organized jointly by Global Water Intelligence magazine and the International Desalination Association. Ian Barbour, general manager of Dow Water Solutions, a business unit of The Dow Chemical Company, will highlight the latest advances in filtration technology in a presentation on "The low-pressure membrane revolution" in the morning session on Tuesday, April 22.

Dow's membrane technology is at the heart of the world's largest desalination projects, such as Ashkelon, Israel, Perth, Australia, and Tampa Bay, Fla., USA, as well as several facilities under construction. Advancements in FILMTEC(TM) reverse osmosis membranes from Dow have made desalination an economically- and environmentally- viable option for communities struggling with declining fresh water supplies. With lower energy usage, higher throughput and longer useful life of filtration membranes, desalination technology has the potential to "unlock" vast resources to help alleviate the plight of 1.2 billion people affected by water shortage.

The London conference will coincide with the announcement of the winners of the 2008 Global Water Awards. One of the four projects shortlisted in the "Desalination Plant of the Year" category is the Tampa Bay desalination plant – a facility that produces clean water for 2.4 million Tampa Bay area residents. Dow has contributed to the success of this plant by providing technological expertise and filtration components.

Dow believes that the world’s water problems can be solved through technology, sound management and pricing policies, cooperation of the public and private sectors, and education. The Company's commitment to deploy science and technology to provide pure water for both industrial applications and human consumption, globally, is part of its 2015 Sustainability Goals.

About Dow Water Solutions

Dow Water Solutions is a performance-based business unit comprised of leading world-class brands and enabling component technologies designed to advance the science of water purification around the world, including seawater desalination, contaminant removal and water reuse. With more than 1,000 employees worldwide, the business maintains five production facilities globally to manufacture, market and sell FILMTEC(TM) reverse osmosis membranes, DOWEX(TM) ion exchange resins, ADSORBSIA(TM) GTO(TM) titanium-based arsenic removal media, ultrafiltration, and electrodeionization components. Dow Water Solutions also manufactures, markets and sells premier water purification systems in China. For additional information about Dow Water Solutions products, visit www.dowwatersolutions.com.

About Dow

With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

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